RFK Jr. blocked from NY ballot after judge rules he provided 'sham' residency

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/12/kennedy-jr-new-york-ballot-judge/74775752007/

A New York judge ruled Monday that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cannot appear on the state's November ballot, siding with a Democratic-backed political action committee that challenged Kennedy's candidacy over the residence he listed to qualify. The judge's decision could pave the way for similar residency challenges targeting Kennedy's candidacy in other states.

New York Justice Christina Ryba, a [Democrat] judge in Albany, ruled that Kennedy falsely claimed on his nominating petition that his "place of residence" is an address in Katonah, N.Y., outside of New York City, where he rents a spare bedroom rather than his home in California, which he purchased in 2021 after marrying actress Cheryl Hines in 2014.

Ryba ruled the nominating petition submitted by Kennedy and running-mate Nicole Shanahan is invalid because of the false residency claim and ordered the New York State Board of Elections not to place the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket on the 2024 ballot.

In a 34-page decision following a short trial, Ryba wrote that "based on clear and convincing credible evidence," the New York address listed on the petition "was not Kennedy's bona fide and legitimate residence, but merely a 'sham' address that he assumed for the purpose of maintaining his voter registration and furthering his own political aspirations in this State."

Kennedy testified that his residency at the New York address began "sometime around May of 2023" but confirmed none of his pets or family members reside at that address. Kennedy told the court he has only slept in the New York home once, "a month ago, three weeks ago."

Kennedy remains a registered voter in New York and has not updated his voter registration since moving to California. "I did not want to change my voter registration to California because I'm a New Yorker," Kennedy told the court.

The lawsuit, brought by three New York residents, was backed by the Democratic-aligned political action committee Clear Choice. Kennedy said he would appeal the decision, which the campaign called an "openly partisan ruling" by a Democratic judge. “The Democrats are showing contempt for democracy,” Kennedy state in a statement. “They aren’t confident they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to stop voters from having a choice. We will appeal and we will win.”

So RFK Jr cannot even vote for himself now.

VOTE FOR ALFRED E. NEUMAN FOR PRESIDENT!
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