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Ex-tax collector Joel Greenberg hires new attorney ahead of federal trial
Read full article: Ex-tax collector Joel Greenberg hires new attorney ahead of federal trialFormer Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg hired a new attorney to represent him in federal court this spring during his trial. Greenberg is scheduled to stand trial in March 2021 but it’s possible hiring a new attorney could delay proceedings. Mark Horwitz formerly represented the former tax collector up until December. An independent audit of the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office under Greenberg’s tenure found gross misuses of taxpayer money including the purchases of a sprinkler system to remotely spray petitioners, as well as tactical gear and weapons. Greenberg, 35, served as Seminole County tax collector from January 2017 until June 24 when he stepped down from office following his indictment.
What's next for Noor Salman after being found not guilty?
Read full article: What's next for Noor Salman after being found not guilty?ORLANDO, Fla. – Noor Salman, the widow of the Pulse nightclub gunman, is now a free woman after spending more than a year in federal custody. Salman was released from jail shortly before 1 p.m.[READ: Who is Noor Salman, widow of Pulse gunman Omar Mateen?] When asked what the future looks like for Salman, her attorney Fritz Scheller replied, "She's going to be a mother." Full Screen 1 / 31 Protestors are seen outside Pulse on March 30, 2018 after a jury found Noor Salman not guilty of aiding and abetting in her husband's attack on the nightclub. Clary has asked the media in both Florida and California to provide Salman with space and privacy and she reunites with her family.
Salman family apologizes to Pulse victims after not guilty verdict
Read full article: Salman family apologizes to Pulse victims after not guilty verdictORLANDO, Fla. – Minutes after Noor Salman, the widow of Pulse gunman Omar Mateen, was found not guilty of helping her husband during a terrorist attack at an Orlando nightclub, her family addressed the media. Family spokeswoman Susan Clary apologized to the Pulse victims in her opening line:"On this Good Friday, the (Salman) family really wants to very first say, 'We are very sorry for the family members and friends of the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting and the survivors.' Lastly, Noor Salman's cousin, Susan Adieh, addressed the media:"No matter what's going to happen, guilty or not, (the Pulse victims) are not coming back. As the verdict was being read by the jury foreman, Noor Salman's hands were visibly shaking. Her family gasped at the not guilty verdict and all of them began sobbing and holding each other.
New videos show Pulse nightclub gunman prepping for attack
Read full article: New videos show Pulse nightclub gunman prepping for attackORLANDO, Fla. – Jurors in the trial of Noor Salman viewed newly-released surveillance videos Thursday showing the defendant's husband buying weapons and casing possible targets including Walt Disney World prior to the Pulse nightclub attack. Investigators said they found Mateen's employer-issued weapon in his rental van outside Pulse nightclub. In a statement to the FBI the day after the Pulse attack, Salman reportedly told agents she and her husband drove around the Pulse nightclub for about 20 minutes after leaving the Kissimmee restaurant. The FBI agent believes the family could not have made the 35-mile round-trip drive to Pulse nightclub in 47 minutes. Cellular location data suggests Mateen then began driving south on Orange Avenue towards Pulse nightclub, where authorities said he began shooting patrons at 2:02 a.m.
Noor Salman's family in Orlando for final day of jury selection
Read full article: Noor Salman's family in Orlando for final day of jury selectionORLANDO, Fla. – The jury selection process in the federal trial against Noor Salman, the Pulse nightclub gunman's widow, came to an end on Monday. On the eighth day of jury selection Noor Salman's family appeared in court. "I know she's innocent. The Salman family said Noor Salman's son is being taken care of by his maternal grandmother. Noor Salman is accused of aiding and abetting in the attack at Pulse nightclub and obstructing justice by lying to FBI investigators after the fact.
FBI's Pulse investigation remains open as Salman trial proceeds
Read full article: FBI's Pulse investigation remains open as Salman trial proceedsORLANDO, Fla. – As attorneys select jurors to hear the case against Noor Salman, the Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into the Pulse nightclub attack carried out by her husband Omar Mateen remains open, an FBI spokeswoman confirmed. The agency’s probe into the 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino California, which occurred six months before the Pulse nightclub attack, also remains open. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement also conducted an investigation into Pulse attack. However, the State Attorney's Office will not begin to review the officers' actions until it receives the FBI's final investigative report, according to a spokeswoman. The City of Orlando, Orange County government and the Orange County Sheriff's Office have no open investigations or internal reviews associated with the Pulse attack, according to representatives with those agencies.
Pulse owner attends jury selection in Noor Salman trial
Read full article: Pulse owner attends jury selection in Noor Salman trialORLANDO, Fla. – Pulse owner Barbara Poma appeared in federal court Tuesday as jury selection continued in the trial of the widow of the gunman who killed 49 people at the Orlando nightclub in June 2016. Noor Salman, 31, is charged with aiding and abetting and obstruction of justice after the shooting. On June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen opened fire inside Pulse on Latin night, killing 49 and injuring more than 50 others. Poma attended the first day of jury selection but had not returned until Tuesday, Day 4 of jury selection. The trial is being held at the Middle District of Florida Courthouse, about 2 miles from Pulse.
Pulse families seek justice in Noor Salman trial
Read full article: Pulse families seek justice in Noor Salman trialORLANDO, Fla. – As attorneys work to seat a jury in the trial of Noor Salman -- the wife of Pulse nightclub gunman Omar Matteen -- some of the victims of the tragedy are seeking justice. She said she knows coming face-to-face with Noor Salman is not going to be easy. "I am living a lifetime behind bars -- bars that were created by her and her husband. She said Salman knew about her husband's plot, so justice will come through her. His mother told us, "No trial will ever give us justice because it will never give us back our son."
Hearings take place ahead of trial for Pulse gunman's widow
Read full article: Hearings take place ahead of trial for Pulse gunman's widowORLANDO, Fla. – A court hearing for the widow of the Pulse Nightclub gunman was underway Thursday as part of a series of hearings that will take place throughout the week, just six weeks ahead of her scheduled trial. The judge has not ruled whether Nemo’s testimony will be considered during the trial. The judge has not decided yet whether to consider these pieces of evidence during Salman’s trial. The judge ruled during the hearing that they would admit text messages Salman sent Mateen the night of the attack. The defense is arguing that the messages, which the judge agreed to admit, show Salman was ignorant about the attack.