Now that the FBI has released what it alleges are transcripts of the Orlando 911 calls, albeit in heavily censored format, the reactions have come flooding in, and no one is more vocal than that of House Speaker Paul Ryan who slammed the DOJ decision to edit references that the Orlando gunman made to the Islamic State from a partial transcript of calls to negotiators released on Monday, framing the decision as misleading the public.
“Selectively editing this transcript is preposterous. We know the shooter was a radical Islamist extremist inspired by ISIS. We also know he intentionally targeted the LGBT community. The administration should release the full, unredacted transcript so the public is clear-eyed about who did this and why.”
As the Hill adds, the FBI’s decision to withhold references to ISIS, even while saying Omar Mateen called himself and Islamic soldier, appears to have invited a new point of contention in the administration’s relationship with congressional Republicans.
Meanwhile, the FBI and law enforcement officials said on Monday that the decision was made to avoid spreading ISIS’s propaganda and prevent copycats from being inspired by Mateen.
“We’re not going to propagate violent rhetoric that comes from other people, whether it comes from here or overseas,” FBI agent Ronald Hopper told reporters during a press conference on Monday. Doing so, he warned, might “inflame” other adherents of ISIS…. We’re not going to continue to put their names out front.”
But why if the shooter was “self-radicalized” without any Muslim influence?
Other officials have said that the move is designed to prevent “re-victimizing” people who may have been affected by the violence at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) on Monday similarly panned the Obama administration’s plan.
“This seems like it is another example of not focusing on the evil here. This is evil. It’s ISIS. It’s radical Islam,” Scott said on Fox’s “America’s Newsroom.”
“We all would like answers. She should release everything that doesn’t impact the investigation,” Scott added of Attorney General Loretta Lynch, noting that he’s been meeting with families of the victims.
“We are all looking for answers. Why wouldn’t she release everything? We all need to know, but especially these families,” Scott said.
Sadly if Scott, or anyone else, is looking for answers they may want to look elsewhere than the “most transparent administration ever.”
via http://ift.tt/28JV92Q Tyler Durden