Current:Home > InvestRobert F. Kennedy in NY court as he fights ballot-access suit claiming he doesn’t live in the state -Thrive Financial Network
Robert F. Kennedy in NY court as he fights ballot-access suit claiming he doesn’t live in the state
View
Date:2025-04-14 17:42:02
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared in a New York court Monday to fight a lawsuit alleging he falsely claimed to live in New York as he sought to get on the ballot in the state.
Kennedy sat at his attorneys’ table, occasionally jotting down notes, as the civil trial began in the state capital of Albany. Under state election law, a judge is set to decide the case without a jury.
The lawsuit alleges that Kennedy’s nominating petition falsely said his residence was in New York’s northern suburbs while he actually has lived in Los Angeles since 2014, when he married “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actor Cheryl Hines.
The suit seeks to invalidate his petition. The case was brought by Clear Choice PAC, a super PAC led by supporters of Democratic President Joe Biden.
“Candidate Kennedy does not reside in the state of New York,” said attorney Keith Corbett in his opening argument.
Kennedy has the potential to do better than any independent presidential candidate in decades, having gained traction with a famous name and a loyal base. Strategists from both major parties worry that he could win enough votes to tip the election.
His campaign has said he has enough signatures to qualify in 42 states, so far. His ballot drive has faced challenges and lawsuits in various states, including North Carolina and New Jersey.
Kennedy’s New York ballot petition lists his residence as a home that a friend owns in Katonah, a tony suburb about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of midtown Manhattan. But the lawsuit claims that the candidate “has no meaningful or continuous connections to the property” and has spent “vanishingly little time, if any.”
He doesn’t have a written lease, and neighbors haven’t seen him around, says the lawsuit, filed in June.
“Moreover, the evidence will show that Kennedy’s wife and children live in California, along with his three dogs, two ravens, an emu and his personal belongings,” the lawsuit adds.
Kennedy’s lawyers maintain that the 70-year-old candidate — who led a New York-based environmental group for decades and whose namesake father was a New York senator — has lived in the state since he was 10.
“While Mr. Kennedy may have purchased a home in California and temporarily moved his family there while his wife pursues her acting career, Mr. Kennedy is and always has been a New Yorker,” his lawyers wrote in a court filing.
In legal arguments ahead of the trial, Kennedy attorney F. Michael Ostrander said his client has a “continuing connection” to the Katonah area.
What to know about the 2024 Election
- Democracy: American democracy has overcome big stress tests since 2020. More challenges lie ahead in 2024.
- AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
- Stay informed. Keep your pulse on the news with breaking news email alerts. Sign up here.
According to the court filing, Kennedy visits the Katonah house as often as possible while campaigning, pays New York state income taxes and pays rent to the owner of the house in Katonah. There he gets mail, is registered to vote, is licensed to practice law, keeps clothes and family photos, has a car registered and has it as his address on his driver’s license and various others.
“He even keeps his beloved falcons in New York state,” attorney William Savino said in a press release Monday. He said Kennedy intends to move back to New York as soon as his wife retires from acting.
The court date comes the day after a video posted on social media showed Kennedy explaining a New York episode in his life: how a decade ago he retrieved a bear that was killed by a motorist and left it in New York’s Central Park with a bicycle on top.
___
Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed from New York.
veryGood! (428)
Related
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Why Kirby Smart thinks Georgia should still be selected for College Football Playoff
- AP Top 25: Michigan is No. 1 for first time in 26 seasons, Georgia’s streak on top ends at 24 weeks
- These 15 Holiday Gifts for Foodies Are *Chef's Kiss
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Weeks later, Coast Guard is still unsure of what caused oil spill in Gulf of Mexico
- Hilary Farr announces she's leaving 'Love It or List It' after 'a wonderful 12 years'
- Florida’s Republican chair has denied a woman’s rape allegation in a case roiling state politics
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Elon Musk sends vulgar message to advertisers leaving X after antisemitic post
Ranking
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- Illinois appeals court affirms actor Jussie Smollett's convictions and jail sentence
- It's been a brutal year for homebuyers. Here's what experts predict for 2024, from mortgage rates to prices.
- Shannen Doherty says cancer has spread to her bones: I don't want to die
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Authorities identify suspect in killing of 3 homeless men in Los Angeles
- Pottery Barn's Holiday Sale Is Up To 50% Off, With Finds Starting At Just $8
- Blake Lively Shares Her Thoughts on Beyoncé and Taylor Swift Aligning
Recommendation
Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
Los Angeles police searching for suspect in three fatal shootings of homeless people
Republicans had New Yorkers lead the way in expelling Santos. Will it help them keep the majority?
AP Top 25: Michigan is No. 1 for first time in 26 seasons, Georgia’s streak on top ends at 24 weeks
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
Massachusetts Republicans stall funding, again, to shelter the homeless and migrants
Thousands of climate change activists hold boisterous protest march in Brussels with serious message
Hilary Farr announces she's leaving 'Love It or List It' after 'a wonderful 12 years'