Sen. Richard Blumenthal is facing criticism over claims he lied in a comment he made in an MSNBC interview about being in Newtown when families were being informed about losing their loved ones in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre.
Blumenthal asserted during an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews last night, "I was there when those families learned that their six beautiful children and 20 children and six great educators would not be coming home that night."
The comment was made in response to a television ad in support of presidential candidate and Texas US Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican.
Cruz took credit for fighting the Obama administration's push to change gun laws following the mass shooting.
Blumenthal arrived at Sandy Hook hours after the tragedy occurred and even longer after most families had been notified that their child had been murdered.
Multiple sources told NBC Connecticut who were at the Newtown Fire Department with parents in December 2012, that Sen. Blumenthal was not "in the room" with parents when they were notified.
Elizabeth Benton, Blumenthal's Press Secretary, clarified his remarks Tuesday, saying, "Senator
Blumenthal was outside the firehouse when the families emerged."
Former State Sen. John McKinney who was with the parents at the firehouse in Newtown as they were notified said, "I understand the words he used. I clearly felt he was saying that he was saying that yes, he was in the room."
McKinney said Blumenthal's clarification was necessary, saying that he was "comfortable" with it.
He was critical of Blumenthal because this wasn't the first instance when he appeared to misremember or revise events of the past. Blumenthal incorrectly stated that he had served in the military in Vietnam. While he was in the armed forces during the war, the Yale graduate and eventual career public servant to Connecticut never stepped foot in Vietnam and it became a campaign issue for him.
"I'm frustrated that this seems to be not the first time that he made this kind of embellishment but he quickly responded and clarified what actually happened," McKinney.
