Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was present in a New York court in Albany to address a lawsuit accusing him of falsely claiming New York residency to qualify for the state’s ballot. The civil trial began without a jury, with Kennedy at his attorneys’ table taking notes intermittently. The lawsuit alleges that his nomination petition inaccurately stated his residence as New York’s northern suburbs, while he has resided in Los Angeles since marrying Cheryl Hines in 2014.
The lawsuit seeking to annul his petition was filed by Clear Choice PAC, a super PAC supporting Democratic President Joe Biden. Attorney Keith Corbett argued in the opening statement that Kennedy does not live in New York. Despite facing challenges in various states, Kennedy’s campaign claims to have gathered enough signatures to qualify in 42 states. Concerns have been raised by strategists from both major parties about his potential impact on the election due to his name recognition and devoted following.
In the legal dispute, the lawsuit asserts that Kennedy has minimal connection to the property listed on his New York ballot petition in Katonah, a suburb north of Manhattan. It notes his wife, children, pets, and belongings are in California. However, Kennedy’s defense maintains that he has resided in New York since childhood, highlighting his ties to the state in various aspects such as paying taxes, being registered to vote, and holding a law license.
Kennedy’s lawyers emphasize his ties to New York, citing his regular visits to Katonah, where he pays rent, receives mail, and maintains various legal and personal associations. The legal team asserts that Kennedy intends to return to New York once his wife concludes her acting career. Notably, a social media video recently surfaced showing Kennedy recounting an incident in Central Park, adding to the backdrop of the legal battle in progress.
