Widow of Pulse nightclub gunman pleads not guilty; trial date set

ORLANDO, Fla. — The widow of the Pulse nightclub massacre gunman briefly appeared Wednesday morning in federal court in downtown Orlando for the first time since her arrest.

Noor Salman, 30, pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karla Spaulding 10 months after the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history.

Salman is charged with aiding her husband, Omar Mateen, in the planning and execution of the June 12 attack that left 49 dead and more than 53 injured. Mateen was killed by police during the attack.

Salman only spoke to tell the judge that she understood the charges she faces.

U.S. marshals said Salman asked for Starbucks coffee upon arriving at the courthouse. She was dressed in what appeared to be the same outfit she was wearing when she was arrested Jan. 16 in Northern California.

A California judge on March 1 ordered her released on $500,000 bail, but a Florida judge revoked her bail and ordered that she remain in jail pending her trial.

Salman had only one attorney in court Wednesday: Fritz Scheller, a well-known local criminal defense attorney.

"It's going to be a long road, and she's fine," Scheller said. "Alright? Thank you."

The three lawyers who represented Salman in federal court in California didn't attend Wednesday's hearing.

If convicted on all counts, Salman could face a maximum penalty of life in prison.

A tentative trial date has been set for June 5, a week before the first anniversary of the mass shooting.

Christine Leinonen, the mother of one of the Pulse victim's, said she will be at Salman's trial.

"If and when she gets convicted by a jury, I definitely want to be there to let the sentencing judge know just how exactly what the impact this massacre had on so many people," Leinonen said.

Cox Media Group