Furious prosecutors filed a letter Thursday appealing a California federal judge’s decision to set bail for the widow of the gunman who killed 29 people during the Pulse nightclub massacre, according to newly released court documents.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu set $500,000 bond Wednesday for 31-year-old Noor Salman, who has pleaded “not guilty” to charges of aiding and abetting her late husband, Omar Mateen, in the June 2016 attack. Salman’s mother and uncle put up their houses as collateral.
But prosecutors argue that Salman remains a danger to the public.
The widow gave “evidence of her husband’s alleged abuse, the affidavits of friends and family and her lack of overall danger in support of the argument that she does not constitute a flight risk,” the Assistant U.S. Attorneys wrote.
“But here, the magistrate judge wrongly focused on the fact that [Salman] was charged with aiding and abetting, as compared to the defendant herself being charged with providing material support or with conspiracy,” the letter reads.
The prosecutors claim that Salman helped Mateen case the club, knew of his plans because of unbridled spending before the attack, and created a false cover story.
Salman will remain behind bars pending the judge’s decision. If released, she will be forced to wear an ankle monitor and remain under house arrest.