The Connecticut Post reported that family members of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting harshly criticized Donald Trump for touting the “endorsement” of a radio host who believes the shooting was a “staged” “hoax.”

The Trump campaign on January 13 issued a press release celebrating the “endorsement” of Carl Gallups, a Florida-based pastor and radio host. Trump called Gallups “incredible” and one of several “prominent community leaders in Florida” to endorse him. Trump added that it's a “great honor” to receive Gallups' support. Gallups also gave the invocation at a January 13 Trump rally.

Gallups has referred to the 2012 tragedy in Newtown, CT, the “Sandy Hook hoax.” He also directly attacked David Wheeler and “his so-called wife” Francine, who lost their 6-year old son Benjamin, for purportedly being fakes. Gallups said David Wheeler is “a sloppy, sloppy, sniper actor employed by the Obama administration to take away your guns” and claimed “there is no denying” the evidence. Gallups has also pushed conspiracy theories about the Boston Marathon bombing and the fatal 2013 Los Angeles International Airport shooting.

The Trump campaign has claimed that it “was not aware of this individual's personal views, which we do not share or support.” A website that Gallups founded doubled down on his Sandy Hook trutherism, arguing that “questions remain” about the tragedy and “no one has refuted” the “findings.” The site added that Gallups has not officially endorsed Trump.

The Post wrote that Trump's embrace of the Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist isn't sitting well with family members of the victims:

Trump's disavowal of Gallups came one day after the family of Victoria Soto, a teacher who was killed shielding her students from the flurry of gunfire in the December 2012 massacre, posted on open letter on Facebook condemning the real estate mogul.

“You being excited about getting support from someone who is a Sandy Hook truther is above and beyond any form of rational thinking,” Soto's family wrote. “It sickens us to think that someone who thinks they can be president of the United States of America could share that view.”

Jillian Soto, who is 27, the same age as her older sister when she died, told Hearst Wednesday it's shocking that Trump didn't vet Gallups before accepting his endorsement.

“I live it every day,” Soto said of the tragedy.

Soto does survivor outreach for Everytown for Gun Safety, an advocacy group of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“We have mass shootings that happen every week, yet we're still going to say this is a conspiracy?” Soto said.

[...]

The Trump campaign's explanation was of no consolation to David Wheeler, who lost his son, Benjamin, 6, in the massacre and has been the focus of the pastor's conspiracy theories.

“It's too little, too late,” Wheeler told Hearst Wednesday. “It's clearly a reflection on Donald Trump and his values and ability to judge people.”

[...]

Wheeler said that Trump's pleading ignorance doesn't excuse his association with Gallups.

“If that's the case, that speaks to their efficacy and professionalism as a campaign,” Wheeler said.