Albany, New York — A judge is expected to rule soon on whether independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. falsely represented his New York residency as he fights to run in the state's November election.
A non-jury trial in Albany over whether Kennedy's New York nominating petition should be set aside ended Thursday without Judge Christina Ryba issuing a summary ruling. Any ruling by the judge is expected to be appealed.
The voter lawsuit, backed by a Democratic PAC, argues that Kennedy's state nominating petition falsely listed a home in New York City's upscale northern suburbs, when in fact he has been living in the Los Angeles area since marrying “Crazy Love” actress Cheryl Hines in 2014.
If Kennedy's petition is found invalid, the New York State Board of Elections will remove him from the ballot in 2024, a board spokesman said. Being removed from the ballot in New York could also lead to lawsuits in other states where his campaign lists the same address.
Kennedy, 70, testified that he moved to California 10 years ago only temporarily and planned to return to New York, where he has lived since he was 10. After the trial, he told reporters that those who signed his petition should be given the opportunity to vote for him.
“The American people want me to be on the ballot. They want to have a choice,” he said.
Kennedy said he rented a room at a friend's house in Katonah, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of midtown Manhattan, but testified that he only slept there once because of his frequent campaign travel.
In his closing argument, lawyer John Quinn said the evidence was clear that Kennedy's residence was in Los Angeles and that attempts to establish him as a New York resident were “spurious.”
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