Obama Administration Reverses Absurd Refusal to Release Full Transcript of Jihadist’s 911 Call
After the Obama Administration Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI released a censored and redacted transcript of Omar Mateen’s 911 phone call pledging allegiance to ISIS, people across America were outraged at the absurdity. Omar Mateen is the Islamic terrorist who killed 49 and wounded 53 in Orlando, Florida.
Today on our daily radio program, Jay Sekulow Live, I highlighted the absolute absurdity of the Obama Administration’s decision and publicly called for the release of the full, unedited transcript. Our legal team immediately began investigating legal avenues to force the Administration’s hand and ensure transparency with the American people. Congressional leaders called it “preposterous” and called on the Obama Administration to be open and transparent by naming our jihadist enemies for what they are.
Now, hours later, the Obama Administration has backed down, releasing the full unredacted and uncensored transcript, admitting that their decision caused an unnecessary distraction from what’s most important – keeping our nation safe.
In a joint statement, the DOJ and FBI said, “As much of this information had been previously reported, we have re-issued the complete transcript to include these references in order to provide the highest level of transparency possible under the circumstances.”
The full transcript of Omar Mateen’s 911 call pledging allegiance to ISIS and its self-proclaimed caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is below:
Transcript of Orlando Police Department 911 Calls, June 12, 2016
2:35 a.m.: Shooter contacted a 911 operator from inside Pulse. The call lasted approximately 50 seconds, the details of which are set out below:
(OD) Orlando Police Dispatcher
(OM) Omar Mateen
OD: Emergency 911, this is being recorded.
OM: In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficent [Arabic]
OD: What?
OM: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [Arabic]. I wanna let you know, I’m in Orlando and I did the shootings.
OD: What’s your name?
OM: My name is I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State.
OD: Ok, What’s your name?
OM: I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him [Arabic], on behalf of the Islamic State.
OD: Alright, where are you at?
OM: In Orlando.
OD: Where in Orlando?
[End of call.]
The release of this information of about the jihadist intent of this terrorist attack and the Administration’s public admission of its mistake in withholding it is a huge victory for the American people. But we can’t stop fighting until our federal government acknowledges the Islamic terrorist threat we face and acknowledges the need to destroy the jihadist enemies who have declared absolute war on us and everything we stand for.
Despite the release of the complete transcript, there are still very troubling signs that the Obama Administration still doesn’t get it.
In both the censored and complete transcripts, the DOJ translated Mateen’s Arabic statements into English.
On four occasions, they changed “Allah” to “God,” avoiding any mention of Islam at all. In my next book coming out this fall – Unholy Alliance – I discuss the key theological differences between the various sects of Islam and distinguish them from Christianity and Judaism.
This is a distinction that matters. And the Obama Administration’s actions and words continue to show that they don’t understand the threat we face.
Today’s release of the uncensored transcript was a big victory for the American people. But there’s still much more to do in order to defeat ISIS and keep America safe.