Closing arguments were presented on Aug. 8 in the trial that will determine whether independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be listed on the 2024 New York general election ballot.
New York State Supreme Court Justice Christina Ryba is expected to make a decision soon on whether Kennedy falsely stated his New York residency in his nomination documents.
Kennedy, the defendant in a lawsuit brought by four voters and supported by Clear Choice PAC, appeared in an Albany courtroom this week. The lawsuit alleges that Kennedy’s nomination petition asserts he resides in New York, despite living in Los Angeles since his marriage to actress Cheryl Hines in 2014.
If the ruling goes against Kennedy, his petitions will be deemed invalid, disqualifying him from the New York general election ballot, as per a spokesperson from the New York Board of Elections.
A negative ruling could also result in legal action in other states where Kennedy’s campaign used the same address for signature collection.
“This case undermines New York voters who signed up in significant numbers to include me on their ballot,” Kennedy stated in a release from his campaign on Aug. 8.
Kennedy explained that he rents a room in a friend’s home in Katonah, located about 40 miles north of midtown Manhattan. He clarified that due to his campaign travel commitments, he has only stayed in the room once.
In his testimony, Kennedy emphasized that Katonah is his “home address” and that his move to California in 2014 was to join his wife, with intentions of returning to New York.
After departing the courthouse, Kennedy emphasized his New York ties dating back to 1964 when his father, Robert F. Kennedy, was a U.S. senator for the state. He stressed the importance of giving the people who signed his petitions the opportunity to vote for him.
Attorney John Quinn, representing the plaintiffs, argued in his closing statements that the evidence clearly shows Kennedy resides in Los Angeles and that claims of New York residency are false.
Responding to queries from his attorney, Kennedy defended his choice not to buy or rent a home in New York due to expenses and time constraints associated with homeownership.
Kennedy recalled that his father faced similar accusations of not residing in New York during his Senate run but rented a home on Long Island months before the election.
On Aug. 7, Kennedy testified that he had no written lease for the Katonah residence where he stays in a spare bedroom.
Court documents reveal that Barbara Moss, the owner of the Katonah property, received a lump sum payment for rent following an article questioning Kennedy’s residency. Moss testified that the arrangement would continue as long as Kennedy required the room.
In a Facebook video on Aug. 6, Kennedy explained his move to California in 2014 to support his wife’s career, with plans to return to New York. He emphasized his love for New York and his commitment to retaining his New York residence.
Savino, Kennedy’s attorney, highlighted Kennedy’s ties to New York, including his mail delivery, driver’s license, voting registration, and tax payments to the state.
Kennedy has plans to return to New York once his wife retires from acting. His campaign recently announced that he submitted over 145,000 signatures on May 28, surpassing any previous presidential candidate in New York history.
In April 2023, Kennedy declared his candidacy to challenge Biden for the 2024 Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. However, after facing obstacles from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and accusing them of favoring Biden, Kennedy decided to run as an independent in October 2023.
He has been focused on obtaining ballot access in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The DNC has set up a team to counter third-party and independent presidential candidates, with veteran Democrat strategist Lis Smith leading the effort to combat Kennedy and other competitors.
Kennedy has gathered over 1 million signatures to date, exceeding any presidential candidate in U.S. history. He has secured the necessary signatures to be on the ballot in 45 states as of Aug. 6.
Despite the challenges, Kennedy remains determined to provide voters with more choices on the ballot. The Associated Press has contributed to this report.
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