In a decision that might be too much to bear for his flailing campaign, a judge has ruled Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name should not appear on New York’s presidential ballot after he falsely claimed a New York residence on nominating petitions despite living in California.
Judge Christina Ryba said in a 34-page decision that the bedroom Kennedy claimed as his home in the state wasn’t a “bona fide and legitimate residence, but merely a ‘sham’ address that he assumed for the purpose of maintaining his voter registration” and furthering his political candidacy.
“Given the size and appearance of the spare bedroom as shown in the photographs admitted into evidence, the Court finds Kennedy’s testimony that he may return to that bedroom to reside with his wife, family members, multiple pets, and all of his personal belongings to be highly improbable, if not preposterous,” the judge wrote.
She also wrote that evidence submitted during the trial showed Kennedy had a “long-standing pattern” of borrowing addresses from friends and relatives so he could maintain his voter registration in New York State while actually residing in California.
Call it the "Kato Kaelin Defense."
Kennedy's lawyers said they would appeal before Thursday's deadline set by Judge Ryba.
If her ruling is upheld, it would not only keep Kennedy off the ballot in New York but could also lead to challenges in other states where he used an address in New York City’s suburbs to gather qualifying signatures.
Clear Choice Action, a PAC that supported the legal challenge, said the judge's ruling makes it clear that Kennedy “lied about his residency and provided a false address on his filing papers and candidate petitions in New York, intentionally misleading election officials and betraying voters’ trust.”
Kennedy might not be on the ballot in New York, but he'll be on North Carolina's ballot, among a few other handful of states.