Grieving Parkland dad: Kavanaugh not ‘genuine’

Court nominee explains why he didn’t shake hands

WASHINGTON – A grieving Parkland dad says he’s dissatisfied with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s explanation for refusing to shake hands with him.

Kavanaugh said he would have shaken the hand of Fred Guttenberg during a break in last week’s Senate hearing had he recognized him before being whisked away by a security detail.

Guttenberg had introduced himself as the father of 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, who was among 17 people killed on Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

He told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Thursday that he found Kavanaugh’s response to be “less than genuine.”

Kavanaugh “missed every opportunity, including one when I was there, to actually act like he meant it,” Guttenberg said. “He chose to say nothing.”

Kavanaugh’s explanation for the encounter with Guttenberg — captured in an Associated Press photo that went viral on social media — was among a 263-page response to written questions from senators on a range of issues including abortion, executive power and his personal finances.

Kavanaugh wrote that he assumed the man who approached him “and touched my arm” during a break at the Senate Judiciary Committee proceedings had been one of the many protesters in the hearing room.

“It had been a chaotic morning,” Kavanaugh wrote. “I unfortunately did not realize that the man was the father of a shooting victim from Parkland, Florida. Mr. Guttenberg has suffered an incalculable loss. If I had known who he was, I would have shaken his hand, talked to him, and expressed my sympathy. And I would have listened to him.”

Kavanaugh’s security detail ushered him out in a “split second,” according to the judge’s response to a written question from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

It was among 1,287 questions from senators, almost all from Democrats. Pressed by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., if he had asked police to intervene, Kavanaugh wrote, “No.”

Kavanaugh’s explanation came in response to the written questions.

“If he meant it, he would have done it sooner, before required to, in the testimony,” Guttenberg said. “But listen, I’m ready to let it go. People in life choose their actions. That’s what I always teach my kids, now my son.

“I chose to walk up there, and he has to own the fact he chose not to respond. History will remember it the way it is.”

Guttenberg acknowledged he touched Kavanaugh on the arm to get his attention, but said his introduction with an outstretched hand was, “Hello, my name is Fred Guttenberg, father of Jaime Guttenberg, who was murdered in Parkland” so Kavanaugh had to understand who he was.

He disputes that the judge thought he was a protester, saying he was sitting with invited guests and the “hecklers were surrounded by an army of police. There was no confusing [us]. Hecklers didn’t get to where I was.

“I appreciate his comments in his written reply, but I would say they weren’t totally genuine.”