Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: “I am running for president because I believe that America is at a pivotal moment in history, and it’s time to bring our country together with a new vision of peace, prosperity, and justice for all.”
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a jarring blow in his campaign this week, as a New York judge delivered a ruling that could dramatically alter the trajectory of his bid for the presidency. On Monday, Judge Christina Ryba disqualified Kennedy from appearing on New York’s general election ballot, citing a falsified claim of residency in his nominating petitions—a move that throws his candidacy into disarray.
The crux of Ryba’s ruling hinged on Kennedy’s dubious assertion that he resided at a New York address, a claim the judge lambasted as a “false statement.” Ryba’s sharp critique suggested that Kennedy’s ties to the Empire State were tenuous at best, and that his claim of residency was nothing more than a strategic ploy to maintain a foothold in New York’s political landscape. With an August 15 deadline looming, Kennedy’s team is expected to challenge the ruling, but the implications are vast. If the decision stands, Kennedy’s ballot access could be jeopardized not just in New York, but potentially in other states where the same address was used to collect signatures—a cascade of legal hurdles that could upend his entire campaign.
Judge REMOVES RFK Jr. from New York ballot
The DNC-backed lawfare campaign just threw a candidate off the ballot who’s collected 1M+ signatures nationwide to appear on the ballot.
Almost 150K in New York alone.
Judge Christina Ryba ruled RFK made a “false statement requiring… pic.twitter.com/BnE1sXOWRx
— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta) August 12, 2024
In her scathing judgment, Ryba underscored that Kennedy’s connections to the New York address were practically non-existent, serving only as a facade to sustain his voter registration and political influence in the state. The evidence presented in court, according to Ryba, overwhelmingly proved that Kennedy’s supposed residency was a mere construct, lacking any substantive reality.
Kennedy, in an attempt to defend his residency claims, took the stand last week, recounting his lifelong ties to New York. He argued that New York had always been his home base, even though he moved to California in 2014 to live with his wife. Currently, he says, he rents a room in New York, a claim that was swiftly scrutinized in court. Barbara Moss, the owner of the property where Kennedy claims to reside, testified that while Kennedy pays her $500 a month for the room, he has only stayed there a single night. The timing of his first payment—May 20 of this year—further fueled skepticism about the authenticity of his residency claim.
In the wake of the ruling, Kennedy’s campaign lashed out, condemning the decision as “openly partisan” and vowing to fight on. The campaign pointed to Kennedy’s deep-rooted connections to New York—his voter registration, his tax records, his driver’s license, and his various licenses, all anchored in the state—as evidence that the ruling was unjust. Senior Counsel Paul Rossi announced plans to seek injunctive relief in the Southern District of New York, framing the battle as a constitutional one, where the federal courts must step in to protect the electoral process from state-level overreach.
BREAKING: RFK Jr. will not appear on the NY State ballot for President after Judge Christina Ryba rules he is not a resident
The Judge ruled that Kennedy falsely claimed that 84 Croton Lake Road in Katonah New York was his residence invalidating his petition.
Other states may… pic.twitter.com/3HYUxGLQhH
— LiveONE.tv (@LiveONE_TV) August 13, 2024
Kennedy himself did not hold back, issuing a fiery statement that accused the Democratic Party of sabotaging democracy. He claimed that the party, fearful of losing at the polls, was resorting to underhanded tactics to limit voter choice. His resolve, however, remained unshaken, as he declared his intention to appeal and ultimately triumph in court.
The lawsuit against Kennedy, orchestrated by Clear Choice Action—a super PAC aligned with the Democratic Party—seeks to dismantle Kennedy’s campaign by challenging his legitimacy as a candidate. Pete Kavanaugh, the super PAC’s founder, minced no words, accusing Kennedy of willfully deceiving election officials and betraying the public’s trust. Kavanaugh predicted that Kennedy’s legal maneuvers would amount to nothing, asserting that the truth of Kennedy’s lies had been laid bare.
*BREAKING NEWS* RFK Jr has been disqualified from the NY ballot. pic.twitter.com/L2UTeesbzG
— TheNewsCompany.co (@TheNewsCompany1) August 13, 2024
But the battle doesn’t stop at New York’s borders. Clear Choice Action has launched legal offensives against Kennedy in Pennsylvania and lodged objections to his candidacy in Illinois. Meanwhile, other Democratic allies are ramping up similar efforts in Nevada and Delaware, creating a multi-state legal quagmire that Kennedy must navigate if he hopes to stay in the race.
RFK Jr: “The Democratic Party is politicizing the courts to get me off the ballot”
“1 million Americans have said they want to see my name.
That’s not the Democratic Party I grew up with.
That Democratic Party was fighting for voting rights, not fighting to deprive people of… pic.twitter.com/KnMgcnaZOw
— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta) August 13, 2024
Adding to the chorus of criticism, Matt Corridoni, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, lambasted Kennedy, painting him as a reckless figure willing to throw the election into chaos to benefit Donald Trump. Corridoni’s scathing remarks painted Kennedy as a man driven by self-interest, indifferent to the potential fallout of his actions on the American public. With the New York ruling as a potential precedent, the DNC is now weighing its options in other states, ready to escalate the fight against Kennedy’s candidacy.
Quotes
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: “My candidacy is about restoring integrity, transparency, and truth to the American government. We need leaders who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and who will fight for the rights of every American.”
- “The challenges we face as a nation are immense, from environmental degradation to economic inequality. I’m running for president to tackle these issues head-on with bold, innovative solutions.”
- “I have always believed in the power of the American people to bring about change. My campaign is a movement for those who feel unheard and left behind, and together, we will build a brighter future.”
Major Points
- Judge rules Kennedy’s New York residency claim as fraudulent, disqualifying him from the ballot.
- Kennedy’s team plans to appeal the decision before the August 15 deadline.
- Evidence showed Kennedy’s ties to the New York address were superficial, used for political advantage.
- The ruling could lead to similar legal challenges in other states.
- Kennedy’s campaign condemns the ruling as partisan, vowing to continue the fight.
James Kravitz – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
