UPDATE: FL State Rep’s Staffer Fired After Telling Reporter That Shooting Survivors Are Crisis Actors

Florida Rep. Shawn Harrison

A reporter for The Tampa Bay Times revealed this afternoon that an aide for a Florida state representative sent him an email spreading a disgusting conspiracy theory about the Parkland school shooting.

There’s already been one conspiracy––which was “liked” by Donald Trump Jr.––against one of the students, and now there’s this nonsense:

An aide to state Rep. Shawn Harrison, using state email, sent me this: “Both kids in the picture are not students here but actors that travel to various crisis when they happen.” https://t.co/UFD1ZXGNjr

— Alex Leary (@learyreports) February 20, 2018

Here’s the email. I asked for more information to back up the claim and was sent another email that linked to a YouTube conspiracy video. pic.twitter.com/VRSVOcjj3E

— Alex Leary (@learyreports) February 20, 2018

Harrison said in a statement to the Times, “If my aide disparaged a student from Parkland who is grieving than I will deal most strongly with my aide. … Clearly it was inappropriate for him to send that.”

He subsequently announced on Twitter the staffer is being put on leave:

I was just made aware that my aide made an insensitive and inappropriate allegation about Parkland students today. I have spoken to him and placed him on leave until we determine an appropriate course of action. I do not share his opinion and he did so without my knowledge.

— Shawn Harrison (@Shawnfor63) February 20, 2018

UPDATE –– 7:18 pm ET: Harrison has now tweeted he was fired:

Tonight Mr. Kelly was terminated from his position as my District Secretary. I am appalled at and strongly denounce his comments about the Parkland students. I am again sorry for any pain this has caused the grieving families of this tragedy.

— Shawn Harrison (@Shawnfor63) February 21, 2018

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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