Florida

Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Refuses Handshake From Parkland Victim's Father

"I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence," the father remarked

During a break in Tuesday's Supreme Court confirmation hearing, a man whose daughter died in the Parkland, Fla., school shooting tried to shake the hand of nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who apparently refused.

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jamie died in the February attack, approached Kavanaugh after he rose from the witness table for a lunch break.

Guttenberg put out his hand to Kavanaugh, who paused for a moment before turning away as a security guard stepped in.

In a video, Guttenberg can be heard saying "My daughter was murdered at Parkland" during the exchange.

"Just walked up to Judge Kavanaugh as morning session ended. Put out my hand to introduce myself as Jaime Guttenberg's dad. He pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence," Guttenberg wrote on Twitter.

After the encounter, Capitol Police talked with Guttenberg. He was again sitting in the hearing room for the afternoon session.

White House spokesman Raj Shah says security intervened before Kavanaugh could shake the hand of the "unidentified individual."

In response to Shah, Guttenberg said he was at the hearing "all day and introduced by" Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Guttenberg on Monday wrote on Twitter that he would be at the hearings and that he hoped "to play a role in ensuring that this man does not become the next Supreme Court Justice."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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