Texas Govenor Accosted At JFK Airport Over Gay-Marriage Stance
AUSTIN, Texas (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A traveler at Kennedy Airport accosted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over his opposition to gay marriage as Abbott was waiting with his family to board a flight to Austin.
Abbott spokesman Matt Hirsch told the Austin American-Statesman that the unidentified 32-year-old man first shook the governor's hand Tuesday night before loudly telling him to "go to hell." The traveler also used a profanity, Abbott's office said.
Hirsch said Texas troopers traveling with Abbott told the man to step away and as he departed said, "I'm going to see you on the plane."
The man, however, was banned from the JetBlue flight. He was placed on a flight Wednesday.
Port Authority police determined that "no direct threats were made," and the man was not arrested, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Hirsch released a statement saying: "The Governor respects and is always willing to listen to the viewpoints of others. He's grateful for the airport officials who handed the incident in a professional manner."
Abbott was with his wife and daughter. He was in New York meeting with corporate leaders in an effort to lure jobs to Texas.
After a Supreme Court ruling last month that legalized same-sex marriages nationwide, Abbot said the court had "abandoned its role as an impartial judicial arbiter and has become an unelected nine-member legislature."
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