Staff Reports
In yet another twist in the saga of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a lawyer has approached a state appeals court in New York with the hope of restoring his name to the presidential election ballot, despite Kennedy suspending his campaign. It’s a strange predicament when a candidate who’s no longer running still wants to be on the ticket. Sounds like the political version of “I’m not dead yet!”
Recently, a state judge booted Kennedy from the ballot, claiming he misrepresented his residency on his nomination papers. Apparently, this “New Yorker” has been living in California for a while now—perhaps enjoying too many tacos and beaches in the Golden State. After getting the boot, Kennedy decided to suspend his campaign and even endorsed Donald Trump, which has made some heads spin faster than a tilt-a-whirl at a county fair.
🚨BREAKING: RFK Jr has lost his New York case and will remain off the state ballot.
He can appeal the decision to the state’s highest court. pic.twitter.com/m1IYNZBVVj
— Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) August 29, 2024
The plot thickens: Kennedy is in the process of distancing himself from ballots in states that could sway the presidential race, such as Maine. While he’s quietly withdrawing from certain contests, his legal team is still working overtime to assert that he is indeed a New Yorker. They argue that listing a friend’s suburban address was merely a harmless oversight. In their mind, calling himself a New Yorker is perfectly valid, as if everyone should just nod in agreement and move on. What’s next, claiming a prime spot in the Statue of Liberty?
Kennedy’s lawyer made a case about the validity of petition addresses based on past rulings, suggesting one’s residence could literally be on the moon and still be up for debate. Nobody was fooled by the address, according to him, because who wouldn’t recognize a Kennedy? If this were true, they might as well post a sign at the entrance to every voting hall declaring “a Kennedy lives here,” and save everyone the hassle.
On the opposing side, the plaintiffs—who seem to be supported by a Democratic political action committee with a penchant for petition-scrutinizing—aren’t buying Kennedy’s excuses. They argue straightforwardly that regardless of how famous you are, it’s illegal to lie about where you live. But isn’t that the crux of being a Kennedy in contemporary politics? Controversies, gaffes, and, of course, some family drama. In the end, the appeals court is set to make a decision that will either leave Kennedy scrambling further or maybe, just maybe, shake things up in the election. Buckle up; the political rollercoaster of Kennedy isn’t quite finished yet!
