WASHINGTON — Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to G4S Secure Solutions, the security company that employed Omar Mateen. Mateen opened fire at an Orlando nightclub the morning of June 12, 2016, killing 49 people and wounding 53.
Chairman Johnson is seeking information from the company regarding Mateen’s employment responsibilities, security reviews, and media reports about potential concerns raised by Mateen’s co-workers related to his behavior and possible connections to terrorism. The company is not suspected of any wrongdoing in connection with Mateen’s attack, but it may have information useful to better identifying and addressing homegrown extremism.
“I appreciate G4S’s promised support of the law-enforcement investigation into the attack,” Johnson stated in the letter. “While you are not the target of the committee’s inquiry, I believe you may have information that would inform the committee’s oversight. As the committee examines the attack and considers legislative proposals to address homegrown extremism, I respectfully request your assistance with the committee’s inquiry given Mr. Mateen’s employment at G4S.”
The letter can be found here and below:
June 14, 2016
Mr. John Kenning
Regional Chief Executive Officer, North America
G4S Secure Solutions USA
1395 University Boulevard
Jupiter, Florida 33458
Dear Mr. Kenning:
The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is examining the June 12, 2016 terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, that claimed 49 lives and wounded 53 people. Law-enforcement officials have identified Omar Mateen as the suspect who carried out the attack. According to a statement issued by G4S Secure Solutions USA (G4S), a company that offers security services, “Omar Mateen was employed by G4S at a residential community in South Florida and was off-duty at the time of the incident.” The statement noted that Mr. Mateen was employed by G4S since 2007 and was “subject to detailed company screening . . . and re-screened in 2013 with no adverse findings.”
I appreciate G4S’s promised support of the law-enforcement investigation into the attack. While you are not the target of the Committee’s inquiry, I believe you may have information that would inform the Committee’s oversight. As the Committee examines the attack and considers legislative proposals to address homegrown extremism, I respectfully request your assistance with the Committee’s inquiry given Mr. Mateen’s employment at G4S. In particular, I respectfully request that you please respond to the following requests for information and materials:
- Please describe Mr. Mateen’s responsibilities and position title(s) during his time as an employee of G4S. If possible, please provide Mr. Mateen’s employment file and performance evaluations.
- According to reports, some of Mr. Mateen’s co-workers apparently raised concerns about Mr. Mateen’s behavior and potential terrorist connections. In 2013, according to reports, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) interviewed Mr. Mateen twice and conducted witness interviews, but did not find any terrorist links and closed the investigation.
- Did Mr. Mateen’s co-workers raise concerns internally within the G4S chain of command? Please explain and, if possible, please provide any documents relating to these concerns.
- Did the FBI inform G4S about its investigation into Mr. Mateen? Did G4S provide any information to the FBI? Please explain.
- Was G4S aware of any other law-enforcement investigations into Mr. Mateen? Please explain.
- According to G4S’s statement, Mr. Mateen was subject to a number of “detailed company screening[s],” including a re-screening in 2013. Please provide a description of the company’s screening processes for its employees, including Mr. Mateen.
- According to G4S’s statement, Mr. Mateen was “was subject to checks by a U.S. law enforcement agency with no findings reported to G4S.” Please explain which U.S. law enforcement agency performed the checks on Mr. Mateen and when these checks occurred.
- Please explain how G4S screens, vets, and trains its employees who perform contract work for federal agencies, including component entities of the Department of Homeland Security.
Please provide this material as soon as possible but no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 28, 2016. To the maximum extent possible, please provide unclassified responses to my questions. Should a complete response to any question require that you send me classified information, you may send me that information under separate cover, via the Office of Senate Security. In addition, I request that appropriate company staff arrange a briefing with my staff on this terrorist attack. When delivering production sets, please produce to Majority staff in room 340 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building and to Minority staff in room 613 of the Hart Senate Office Building.
The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized by Rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate to investigate “the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of all agencies and departments of Government.” Additionally, S. Res. 73 (114th Congress) authorizes the Committee to examine “the efficiency and economy of operations of all branches and functions of the Government with particular reference to (i) the effectiveness of present national security methods, staffing and processes….” For purposes of this request, please refer to the definitions and instructions in the enclosure.
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