Robert F. Kennedy Jr., running as an independent candidate for president, has been kicked off the general election ballot in New York. This decision came after a judge ruled that Kennedy lied about living in New York to boost his campaign.
The judge, Christina Ryba, found that Kennedy falsely claimed a New York address on his nomination papers, even though he had no real plans to move back to the state. She said he did it purely for political reasons, which is why his papers were invalidated. Kennedy and his team are expected to appeal this decision before the August 15 deadline. If they lose the appeal, Kennedy won’t be on the ballot in New York, and this could lead to more challenges in other states where he used the same New York address to gather signatures.
During the court case, Kennedy argued that he’s considered New York his home since he was a child, despite moving to California in 2014 to live with his wife. He also mentioned that he’s renting a room in a New York home, which he claimed proves his connection to the state.
However, the woman who owns the home, Barbara Moss, testified that Kennedy has only stayed there for one night and only started paying rent in May this year. This raised further doubts about his true connection to New York.
Kennedy’s campaign was quick to criticize the judge’s ruling, calling it “openly partisan.” They pointed out that Kennedy is registered to vote in New York, pays taxes there, holds a New York driver’s license, and has various licenses, including one for falconry, tied to the state. His campaign vowed to keep fighting the decision in federal court, accusing the Democrats of trying to sabotage his campaign because they fear losing votes.
The lawsuit that led to Kennedy’s disqualification was backed by Clear Choice Action, a super PAC aligned with the Democratic Party. They accused Kennedy of intentionally misleading election officials by providing a fake address. This isn’t the only legal battle Kennedy is facing—similar challenges have been launched against him in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Nevada, and Delaware.
Democrats argue that Kennedy is a dangerous candidate who doesn’t follow the rules and is more interested in helping Donald Trump by playing the role of a spoiler in the election. A spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee even claimed that Kennedy has hinted at supporting Trump in exchange for a job if Trump wins.
As the drama unfolds, Kennedy’s campaign is preparing to fight back in court, but the clock is ticking. The outcome of this legal battle could shape the future of his presidential bid.
