Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., was disqualified from the 2024 presidential ballot in New York after a judge ruled Monday that he provided a "sham" address on his candidate's petition, Fox News reported. The 70-year-old claimed he a rented bedroom in the Empire State despite owning a house with his wife in California.
New York Justice Christina L. Ryba ruled that the Westchester County address was "merely a ‘sham’ address that he assumed for the purpose of maintaining his voter registration" and seeking high office. Ryba added that he made a "false statement requiring invalidation of the petition" in New York.
"Using a friend’s address for political and voting purposes, while barely stepping foot on the premises, does not equate to residency under the Election Law. To hold otherwise would establish a dangerous precedent and open the door to the fraud and political mischief that the Election Law residency rules were designed to prevent," the judge wrote in her 34-page-decision.
This ruling will keep Kennedy off of the ballot in New York but could also be grounds to disqualify him in other states. Previously, Kennedy said he was approved to be listed on the ballot in every state.
It's likely that Kennedy will appeal Ryba's decision, but this is another obstacle in a succession of hurdles. Kennedy began his candidacy as a Democrat from the party's most storied family.
However, after failing to gain traction as a Democratic candidate, Kennedy became an independent. He believes the Democratic Party is still trying to block him, including the lawsuit against him filed by the Democratic political action committee Clear Choice Action.
"The Democrats are showing contempt for democracy. They aren’t confident they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to stop voters from having a choice," Kennedy said, adding that Ryba is a Democrat. "We will appeal, and we will win," he added.
The candidate doubled down on his message on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday. "This case is an assault on New York voters who signed in record numbers to place me on their ballot. The DNC has become a party that uses lawfare in place of the democratic election process."
This case is an assault on New York voters who signed in record numbers to place me on their ballot. The DNC has become a party that uses lawfare in place of the democratic election process. We will appeal and we will win. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/D8rfIogIai
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) August 13, 2024
Many voters disillusioned with the two-party system who found a home with Kennedy may be tempted to believe Kennedy's assertion that this case is part of a conspiracy against him. Unfortunately, there is likely merit to the court's decision.
Notably, Kennedy spends most of his time in California, where he shares a home with his actress wife, Cheryl Hines. There's no evidence that Kennedy spent any time in the rented room located in the home of Barbara Moss, as he claimed.
In fact, Kennedy first paid Moss the $500 per month rent only after the media began investigating the matter. She also said there is no written lease for the arrangement.
These facts led the judge to say it was "highly improbably, if not preposterous," to believe Kennedy's claims that "he may return to that bedroom to reside with his wife, family members, multiple pets, and all of his personal belongings." Moreover, Ryba noted that Kennedy had a "long-standing pattern" of claiming friends' residences as his own to maintain his New York voter registration.
While Kennedy provided a necessary alternative for some voters, this decision could forever ruin his chances of electoral success. It remains unclear why Kennedy took such a risk in the first place.
