Liberals and Democratic operatives attacked Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh for not shaking hands with the father of a Parkland, Florida, school shooting victim, but video shows security intervened and escorted the nominee away.
Fred Guttenberg, the father of murdered student Jaime Guttenberg, tweeted Tuesday that he approached Kavanaugh at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and the Trump nominee "pulled his hand back, turned his back to me and walked away," adding, "I guess he did not want to deal with the reality of gun violence." The tweet quickly ranked up thousands of retweets.
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.
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 4, 2018
The tweet was quickly spread by Democratic politicians, operatives, and liberal media figures opposed to Kavanaugh's nomination.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned how Americans could now trust the nominee to fairly treat victims of gun violence.
If Kavanaugh won’t even give him a handshake, how can we believe he would give gun violence victims a fair shake in court? https://t.co/OiDP6lB1Ez
— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) September 4, 2018
Others questioned his judicial temperament and ability to "understand the reality of America today."
Most important Kavanaugh confirmation hearing moment so far ... https://t.co/KXeuhviIFi
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) September 4, 2018
I’m not sure how to define judicial temperament, but if Judge Kavanaugh reacted that way AFTER being told who Fred was, it’s clear he doesn’t have it. https://t.co/7uDH5mA9vk
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) September 4, 2018
Well that's awful. https://t.co/OfGOAX6ekP
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) September 4, 2018
Another reason to #StopKavanaugh https://t.co/lnkzkXu2B4
— ilyse hogue (@ilyseh) September 4, 2018
We need judges to understand the reality of America today. https://t.co/1852SdDm7h
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) September 4, 2018
Video of the incident, taken from multiple angles, shows security intervened in the discussion, placing a hand on Guttenberg and escorting Kavanaugh away. There is no indication Kavanaugh "pulled his hand away" as Guttenberg claimed.
NEW VIDEO of hearing room clearly shows security intervened when Judge #Kavanaugh was approached. pic.twitter.com/ZGRRCcWroW
— Raj Shah (@RajShah45) September 4, 2018
Video of Kavanaugh-Guttenberg moment, you can see Kavanaugh turn around in surprise at someone calling for him and then not shake hands before security took him away. Awkward all around. pic.twitter.com/OFQGgWrZ8a
— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) September 4, 2018
An Associated Press photojournalist also racked up thousands of retweets with a tweet that simply said "Kavanaugh did not shake his hand" with no explanation why. In the photo, the member of Kavanaugh's security who was placing his hand on Guttenberg is obscured.
Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jamie Guttenberg who was killed in the shooting in Parkland, Fla., left, tries to shake hands with @realDonaldTrump's Supreme Court nom., Brett Kavanaugh, right, during a lunch break. Kavanaugh did not shake his hand. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) @ap pic.twitter.com/smcCGuLT6X
— Andrew Harnik (@andyharnik) September 4, 2018