Widow of Pulse nightclub gunman cleared of all charges

Noor Salman could have faced up to life in prison had she been convicted of federal charges of obstruction of justice

ORLANDO: Noor Salman, the widow of Pulse nightclub gunman Omar Mateen, was acquitted on Friday of federal charges that she tried to obstruct investigators and aided her husband in the attack that killed 49 people in 2016.

The jury reached its decision in US District Court after roughly 12 hours of deliberation since Wednesday.



Salman, 31, could have faced up to life in prison had she been convicted of federal charges of obstruction of justice and aiding Mateen in providing support to the Islamic State militant group.

Mateen, who had claimed allegiance to an Islamic State leader, died in an exchange of gunfire with police at Pulse, a gay nightspot.