Florida lawmaker's aide fired after falsely claiming Parkland students are crisis 'actors'

Christal Hayes | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Teen gives emotional speech at gun control rally after mass shooting Thousands gathered in front of the federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, some 25 miles where 17 people were shot and killed at a high school.

An aide to a Florida state representative falsely suggested Tuesday that outspoken survivors of the Parkland school shooting were actually crisis actors.

Benjamin Kelly, district secretary for Rep. Shawn Harrison, put his thoughts into writing, emailing a reporter for the Tampa Bay Times that several students who appeared on television criticizing lawmakers on gun-control laws actually travel to different incidents when they happen.

"Both kids in the picture are not students here but actors that travel to various crisis when they happen," he told reporter Alex Leary.

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 he was "appalled" and fired Kelly after being made aware of the comments.

"I was just made aware that my aide made an insensitive and inappropriate allegation about Parkland students today," he said on Twitter. "I do not share his opinion and he did so without my knowledge."

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

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

Kelly also posted an apology after his comments went viral on Twitter.

"I meant no disrespect to the students or parents of Parkland," he said on Twitter. "Rep. Shawn Harrison is an honest and respectable man. In no way should he be held responsible for my error in judgement."

I’ve been terminated from the State House. I made a mistake whereas I tried to inform a reporter of information relating to his story regarding a school shooting. This was not my responsibility. I meant no disrespect to the students or parents of Parkland. — Benjamin Kelly (@benakelly) February 20, 2018

A number of students who survived the attack in Parkland, Fla., have become outspoken critics of lawmakers, President Trump and the National Rifle Association. Many traveled to to the state's capital Tuesday in hopes of tightening gun laws.

Their strong response to the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has made them a target of online trolls, conspiracy theorists and even some conservatives, including former Republican Congressman Jack Kingston, of Georgia, who suggested on CNN that students were being used as props for left-wing groups as they plan demonstrations to protest gun laws.

Angry cries from Fla. students spark national movement There's a rally for change after the mass-shooting in Parkland, Florida. Students are speaking up and taking action.

"Do we really think, and I say this sincerely, do we really think that 17-year-olds on their own are going to plan a nationwide rally?" Kingston said Tuesday.

One of the Florida survivors, 17-year-old David Hogg, denied the accusation Tuesday.

"I'm not a crisis actor," Hogg told CNN's Anderson Cooper on AC360. "I'm someone who had to witness this and live through this, and I continue to be having to do that."

"I'm not acting on anybody's behalf," he said.

More: Students plan to walk out of schools to protest gun laws

Follow Christal Hayes on Twitter at Journo_Christal