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Brett Kavanaugh Refuses To Shake Hand With Parkland Father Of Shooting Victim Fred Guttenberg

President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, refused to shake hands with the father of a student killed in the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

At the Supreme Court confirmation hearing Monday, Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime Guttenberg died in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School earlier this year, was reaching out his arm for a handshake with the nominee. Kavanaugh turned to look at him and then turned the other way and walked away.


Guttenberg, who attended the hearing as Senator Dianne Feinstein’s guest, is a vocal advocate for gun control since the death of his daughter. After the morning session for the hearing ended, Guttenberg wrote on Twitter that he “walked up to Judge Kavanaugh” and attempted to introduce himself “as Jaime Guttenberg’s dad. I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence.”


In response to Guttenberg’s tweet, White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah tweeted that an “unidentified individual” had approach Kavanaugh but that “security had intervened,” preventing Guttenberg from shaking Kavanaugh’s hand.

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Guttenberg replied on Twitter that this account wasn’t accurate. “Incorrect. I was here all day and introduced by Senator Feinstein. No security involved. He turned and walked away,” Guttenberg wrote.


A video captured by CSPAN backs up Guttenberg. Although a security guard was present, Kavanaugh looked Guttenberg in the eye as he introduced himself, and then turned around to walk the other way.

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The NRA has pledged to spend at least $1 million on pro-Kavanaugh ads.

Steven Abendroth

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