This is straight up fuckery. They knew for a fact that Castile was issued a permit but wanted to feed the right wingers something they could run with in order to cast doubt on that fact.

@cameron_dehart Mr. Castile never applied for a permit to carry with our office. Therefore we did not issue his permit.

— Ramsey Sheriff (MN) (@RamseySheriff) July 7, 2016

Castile’s CCW permit reportedly issued in Hennepin County. Did your officers find it on his dead body, yes or no? https://t.co/cfSB0pZzYR

— Frankly My Dear … (@goddamnedfrank) July 9, 2016

They’re pretending that the information is “private” and they can’t give it out themselves even though newspapers have confirmed Castile had a valid permit, but they have no problem handing the racists red meat and pretending there’s some wiggle room because they didn’t issue it. If it turns out they’ve had his permit in their evidence locker this whole time that equivocating bullshit tweet is going to look even worse.