Judge rules RFK Jr. not eligible for New York ballot due to false residence claim

In a recent development in the world of politics, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has faced a setback as he has been disqualified from appearing on New York’s general election ballot. The ruling came after a judge determined that Kennedy had falsely claimed a New York residence on his nominating petitions, leading to their invalidation.

Judge Christina Ryba made the decision, stating that Kennedy’s assertion of a New York address as his “place of residence” was untrue. She concluded that it was clear he had no intentions of moving back to the Empire State and only listed the location for political gain. It is expected that this ruling will be appealed before the August 15 deadline. If upheld, it would prevent Kennedy from being on the New York ballot and could lead to challenges in other states where he used a New York suburban address to collect signatures.

During the court proceedings, Kennedy testified that he has considered New York his home since childhood and had plans to return. He explained that he temporarily moved to California in 2014 to live with his wife and is currently renting a room at a woman’s home in New York. The homeowner, Barbara Moss, testified that Kennedy had paid her $500 a month for the room, but had only spent one night at the home and made his first rental payment in May of this year.

In response to the ruling, the Kennedy campaign condemned it as “openly partisan” and vowed to continue the legal fight. They highlighted Kennedy’s longstanding ties to New York, including voter registration, tax payments, a driver’s license, legal practice, and recreational licenses in the state. Campaign Senior Counsel Paul Rossi stated their intent to seek injunctive relief in the Southern District of New York, citing the need to protect voters’ rights in the face of what they see as an unjust ruling.

Kennedy himself criticized the Democrats, accusing them of showing contempt for democracy and attempting to limit voters’ choices by blocking his candidacy. Despite the setback, he expressed confidence in their appeal process.

The lawsuit against Kennedy was backed by Clear Choice Action, a Democrat-aligned super PAC that aims to impede third-party candidates in the presidential election. They accused Kennedy of providing a false address on his filing papers and candidate petitions, calling him out for misleading election officials and betraying voters’ trust. This legal action is part of a larger effort by Democratic Party allies to challenge Kennedy’s candidacy in multiple states, including Pennsylvania, Illinois, Nevada, and Delaware.

In the wake of the New York ruling, DNC spokesperson Matt Corridoni criticized Kennedy as a “deeply troubled, reckless, and dangerous man” who prioritizes his own interests over the well-being of the American people. He accused Kennedy of being willing to act as a spoiler for Donald Trump in the election and even considering endorsing Trump in exchange for a job in his administration. The DNC has signaled their intention to assess their options in other states following this ruling.

The Kennedy campaign did not provide a comment on the matter, and the legal battle surrounding his candidacy is ongoing. It remains to be seen how this ruling will impact his prospects in other states and whether he will be able to overcome this setback in his bid for the presidency.