ORLANDO, Fla. — A family member said the widow of the Orlando nightclub shooter is a victim herself and innocent of charges of helping her husband in the months leading to the June massacre.
Al Salman, uncle of 30-year-old Noor Salman, said Tuesday that his niece knew nothing of her husband's plan to attack the Pulse nightclub, killing 49 people. He said his niece was a "simple and innocent" woman who was physically and mentally abused by husband Omar Mateen.
Timeline: Salman charged in connection with Pulse massacre
Noor Salman's attorney said at a brief court hearing that he'll seek her release from jail pending trial. Salman said little and looked sadly back at her uncle as she was led back to jail.
Al Salman said his niece was asleep with her son while her husband was carrying out the attack and got a call telling her what happened.
"She either call him or text him. He respond, he said, 'Don't you see the news?' She tell him, 'No.' He said, 'I love you, baby,' and hung up. That's all she knows," said Al Salman.
Read: Who is Noor (Salman) Mateen?
A judge scheduled another hearing Wednesday to formally appoint a lawyer to represent Salman, discuss transporting her to Florida to face federal charges and her possible release pending trial.
Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said Salman was arrested at her parent's home near San Francisco by the FBI on Monday.
Photos: Home where Salman was arrested
"(Salman) did knowingly engage in misleading conduct ... with the intent to hinder, delay and prevent the communication to federal law enforcement officers and judges of the United States of information relating to the commission and possible commission of a federal offense," the indictment said.
She is being held in at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California.
Reporter Shannon Butler posted this clip of what else her uncle:
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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