The Orlando massacre at a popular gay nightclub shows no one yet has “found the magic bullet” to prevent Americans from being inspired to violence by jihadist propaganda on the internet, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Tuesday as she visited a city still shaken by the shootings.
Countering the narrative of radical extremism continues to be a challenge for the government, Lynch said in an interview with The Associated Press.
“How do we break that chain? How do we counter this extremist ideology that’s online, knowing that the internet has to remain free and open?” she said. “What can we get out there that’s a counter-message to that?”
At the scene of the carnage, workers removed a temporary fence that was erected around the Pulse nightclub. State officials wondered how they would pay for resources drained by the June 12 massacre, and investigators kept probing for gunman Omar Mateen’s motives for the rampage, in which 49 people were killed and dozens more wounded. Mateen died in a gunbattle with police.
Lynch said investigators may never pinpoint a single motive and have not ruled out witness reports suggesting Mateen might have been at Pulse before or had gay interests.
“While we know a lot more about him in terms of who he was and what he did, I do not want to definitively rule out any particular motivation here,” she said, later adding, “It’s entirely possible that he had a singular motive. It’s entirely possible that he had a dual motive.”
In a 911 call from the club, Mateen pledged solidarity with the Islamic State group, and Lynch said there’s no doubt, based on evidence gathered during the investigation, that he had read and absorbed extremist propaganda on the internet.
“We believe that is certainly one avenue of radicalization, but we want to know if there are others,” she said in the interview. “We want to know everything he did in the days, weeks and months leading up to this attack.”
“We still do believe that this was an act of terror and an act of hate,” she added.
Speaking to reporters later, she called the rampage a “shattering attack — on our nation, on our people and on our most fundamental ideals.” She also directly addressed the LGBT community, saying, “We stand with you to say that the good in the world far outweighs the evil … and that our most effective response to terror and hatred is compassion, unity and love.”
While in Orlando, Lynch visited a memorial, praised the actions of first responders and met with victims’ relatives. Her remarks at a news conference followed meetings with U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley and other law enforcement officials, including prosecutors assigned to the investigation.
Lynch’s meeting with first responders came as Orlando police faced continued questions about their response.
On Monday, police Chief John Mina said that if any fire from responding officers hit victims at the club, Mateen bears the responsibility. “Those killings are on the suspect, on the suspect alone in my mind,” he said.
Lynch said the Justice Department will provide Florida $1 million in emergency funds to help with response costs. Florida’s Republican Gov. Rick Scott had complained that Washington had turned down his request for $5 million to help pay for the state’s response.
Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Rafael Lemaitre said its disaster fund was not an “appropriate source” to pay for law enforcement response, medical care and counseling for victims of a shooting.
More clues emerged about the attack Monday when the FBI released a partial transcript of phone calls Mateen had with a 911 operator and police crisis negotiators once the shooting got underway.
In them, he identified himself as an Islamic soldier, demanded that the U.S. “stop bombing” Syria and Iraq, warned of future violence and at one point pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State group, the FBI said.
Mateen’s calls to police, which one FBI official said were made in a “chilling, calm and deliberate manner” were similar to postings he apparently made on Facebook around the time of the shooting.
“I’m in Orlando and I did the shootings,” Mateen said in one call that came more than a half-hour after the first shots rang out, the FBI said.
Despite his declarations, the FBI says it’s found no evidence the attack was directed by a foreign terrorist organization. Mateen instead appears to have become radicalized through online jihadist propaganda, officials say, an influence that openly worries law enforcement.
Federal officials have encouraged friends and families to report to authorities individuals they believe are coming under the sway of extremist ideology and have sought to discourage Americans from traveling to Syria to fight alongside the Islamic State by portraying it as a hellish danger zone. But “it’s a real challenge” to redirect extremist propaganda that motivates people like Mateen to violence, particularly when the material is so easily accessible online, Lynch said.
“A lot of people are looking at this, and I don’t know that anyone has found that magic bullet or that way to break that chain,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Jim Evans says
He also has no strategy to stop ISIS and my belief is that he doesn’t want to. There are to many Muslims in his administration.
Justin W says
Madame attorney general, may I suggest that the first step in getting control of the situation is for your office and the Obama administration to come to terms with the core problem–radical Islam. You need to label it as such. You need to stop trying to censor information in hopes of deflecting attention from Islam.
These terrorists have something in common with too many American politicians. They all hold fantasized views of Islam. Islam is not a religion of peace. Islam is not an enlightened religion. Islam is a religion that is forced upon people. Every place Islam is allowed to prevail is a place of misery, poverty, violence and oppression. The American ideal is based on Judeo-Christian values. The Judeo-Christian values lead to opportunity, freedom, peace, innovation, and prosperity. America is for winners; Islam is for losers.
Sadly a large part of the problem is the mindset of our current president. His delusions about the greatness of Islam have helped foster the environment where deranged people think that they are doing something great by trying to overthrow western civilization and force the darkness of Islam onto the world. Ms. Lynch, much like the rest of the Obama administration, is deluded by their utopian views of Islam. Until they are willing to confront the darkness inherent in that religion they will never be able to effectively deal with these terrorists.
SCHNEEWITCHEN says
Justin,
I could not have articulated it better! You covered all the bases and in a few words. I pray that the next administration routes out every last member of the muslim brotherhood, and puts all those terms that were removed from the handbooks of the FBI that refer to all the muslim terms of war. Until our government clearly and concisely defines with precise accuracy who and what is the problem ( Islam), there will be no stopping them.
Tarheel says
Thank you Justin, you articulated that excellantly
George Roets says
Madam Attorney General, if you do not know how to do your job you should do the moral and honorable choice and resign. I know you inherited a politically driven agenda from a corrupt and dishonest predecessor but my hopes you would succeed were overly optimistic. Don’t bring more shame and tarnish to a remarkable career.
Joanne says
Loretta Lynch is another Obama clone. All you she does is Flap Her Jaws and says nothing. Here’ something she should address which is BLACK ON BLACK CRIMES ADNAUSEUM IN CHICAGO. WHERE’S THE OUTRAGE? NO ONE TALKS ABOUT IT. ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL.
Just another lying hypocrite with no MORAL COMPASS.
Freedom says
LIBERAL…MARXISTS….COMMUNISTS…HAVE NEVER HAD A MORAL COMPASS…..AN THE DC DICTATOR BELIEVES HE IS GOD……BUT ONE DAY SOON HIS “DEAD GOD ALLAH”…..WILL NOT STOP HIM FROM SPENDING ETERNITY IN HELL…WITH ALL THE REST OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THIS DESTRUCTIVE AGENDA THAT IS LED BY SATAN AND HIS FALLEN ANGELS…..
lizaz says
No kidding!! Remember this on Nov 8…
UnPCdMOM says
Returning to proclaiming faith and allegiance to our Republic would be a great start. Teaching the real history of our Nation and countering the lies told about our country is a must! Letting citizens know its OK to love and respect their Flag and country would help. Removing foreigners (legal and illegal) that disrespect our nation and laws is a beginning. Perhaps even FREEZING all monetary aide to nations that hate us. Monitoring the legal immigration and stopping the illegal invasion are good ideas. Going back to a sponsorship of immigrants that declare that they will provide knowledge and safety for the newcomer, will teach them the language and the laws. In times of great need air drop supplies to refugees in their homeland rather than giving them the key to every welfare benefit that should have always been reserved for our citizens. Non citizens can get foreign aide IF they don’t hate and disrespect US and they are a benefit to our society rather than a group of protesting animals.
EEL RIVER says
HERE IS THE TOP LAWYER IN THIS COUNTRY, THATS HAD HER BRAIN PICKLED BY BULLSHIT FROM OBUMBA, ANOTHER SPINELESS EXAMPLE OF TOTAL CONTROL, WHAT A WEAK MIND AND NO SPINE, SHE WILL FADE INTO INFAMY. ALONG WITH THE REST OF OBUMBAS FOLLOWERS. SORRY OBUMBA THE WORLD CANT MAKE EXCUSES FOR YOUR MULLATO ASS ANY MORE.
Freedom says
The DC DICTATOR’S REGIME could start by calling them what they are…RADICAL MUZZIE TERRORISTS….But since the DC DICTATOR is one of the TERRORISTS….That will NEVER HAPPEN….