The widow of the gunman who killed dozens of people at a Florida nightclub is not a danger to the public and will be released from jail ahead of her trial on charges of aiding the attack, a federal judge in California decided Wednesday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu also said there is no evidence that Noor Salman, 31, has connections to the Islamic State group or holds extremist views. Her husband, Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to several terror organizations during the shooting that killed 49 people at Pulse nightclub in Orlando before police killed him.
Prosecutors argued against Salman’s release on $500,000 bond, calling her a danger to the public. She will stay behind bars for two days so the government can appeal.
The judge said Salman was not a flight risk and will wear an electronic ankle monitor while she lives with her uncle in Northern California. After the June 12 attack, she moved from Orlando to her mother’s suburban San Francisco home, where she was arrested in January.
Salman’s mother and uncle put up their houses to guarantee that Salman won’t flee. Ryu called the conditions of Salman’s release “essentially house arrest,” because she can only leave for court appearances, meetings with her local attorneys and doctor’s appointments.