Current:Home > BackRFK Jr. questioned in NY court over signature collectors who concealed his name on petitions-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
RFK Jr. questioned in NY court over signature collectors who concealed his name on petitions
View Date:2024-12-23 19:47:51
MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced questions in a New York court Thursday about how his presidential campaign handled revelations that some people gathering signatures to get him on the state ballot concealed his name on the petitions and used other deceptive methods.
Kennedy’s virtual appearance from an office in California came a day after his campaign announced that he will speak Friday about “his path forward.” The announcement fueled speculation that he could drop out of the race and support former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.
Testifying in a trial over a lawsuit backed by the Democratic National Committee that seeks to keep Kennedy off New York’s ballot, he acknowledged that his campaign submitted thousands of signatures gathered by a subcontractor despite knowing that some of its canvassers used deceptive tactics.
The lawsuit alleges, among other claims of fraud, that the top of some petition sheets had been folded down, so the names of Kennedy and his vice presidential running mate, Nicole Shanahan, could not be seen, and only their little-known electors were visible.
“I suppose I’m ultimately responsible for everything that happens in the campaign,” Kennedy said on the witness stand, pointing out that he wasn’t abreast of every detail involved in the subcontractor’s balloting efforts.
When asked if he was ultimately responsible for the decision to submit the signatures, he said “Yes.”
New York requires independent candidates to gather petitions with 45,000 signatures from potential voters to get on the ballot in the general election. Kennedy’s campaign ultimately managed to gather nearly three times that many on top of those gathered by the subcontractor. But an April complaint from a voter and a May New York Times article raised concerns about whether some people signing the petitions knew which candidate they had been asked to support.
Kennedy’s staff was concerned, too. The day after the Times article was published, Kennedy’s campaign manager and daughter-in-law, Amaryllis Kennedy, said in an email to other staff that the questionable petitions gathered by the contractor should not be used.
“We’re obviously pulling all of the petitions they’ve submitted and won’t use any of them as they are likely rife with other hidden errors, buried there to disqualify us once submitted,” she wrote.
According to court documents, the campaign sued the subcontractor, arguing it had to pay them even though none of the signatures were usable. Kennedy said in news interviews at the time that no petitions from the subcontractor were submitted.
But he acknowledged during his testimony that that’s not what actually happened.
Instead, the campaign weeded out around 800 pages — containing 8,000 signatures — with visible creases indicating they’d been folded, putting them in two bankers boxes labeled “fraud box.”
The campaign created an affidavit intended to “cure” the remaining petitions by having the canvassers affirm in writing that they hadn’t committed fraud and submitted over 12,000 signatures from the subcontractor as evidence of New York voters wanting to see him on the ballot.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs however produced at least one example of a creased page that was submitted to the state instead of ending up in the “fraud box.” They also argued, and Kennedy acknowledged, that some canvassers had also verbally misrepresented what the signatures were for — for example, increasing candidate ballot access generally.
What to know about the 2024 Election
- Today’s news: Follow live updates from the campaign trail from the AP.
- Ground Game: Sign up for AP’s weekly politics newsletter to get it in your inbox every Monday.
- AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
The subcontractor did not immediately respond to a phone message and an email request for comment.
A judge in a separate legal challenge has already barred Kennedy from appearing on New York’s ballot, though he has appealed. That suit had argued that Kennedy’s petitions were invalid because they listed him as living in New York when he actually resides in California with his wife, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actor Cheryl Hines. An appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments next week in that case.
Kennedy is facing similar ballot challenges in several other states from Democrats and their allies.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Man is 'not dead anymore' after long battle with IRS, which mistakenly labeled him deceased
- Simone Biles Details Bad Botox Experience That Stopped Her From Getting the Cosmetic Procedure
- A father lost his son to sextortion swindlers. He helped the FBI find the suspects
- Debby bringing heavy rain, flooding and possible tornadoes northeast into the weekend
- Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas says he was detained in airport over being ‘disoriented’
- Columbia University deans resign after exchanging disparaging texts during meeting on antisemitism
- Police shooting of Baltimore teen prompts outrage among residents
- It Ends With Us' Justin Baldoni Praises Smart and Creative Costar Blake Lively
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, 4G
- Kendall Jenner's Summer Photo Diary Features a Cheeky Bikini Shot
Ranking
- Hurricane-stricken Tampa Bay Rays to play 2025 season at Yankees’ spring training field in Tampa
- Is yogurt healthy? Why you need to add this breakfast staple to your routine.
- 'Take care': Utah executes Taberon Dave Honie in murder of then-girlfriend's mother
- Taylor Swift Terror Plot: Police Reveal New Details on Planned Concert Attack
- Mark Zuckerberg Records NSFW Song Get Low for Priscilla Chan on Anniversary
- USA Olympic Diver Alison Gibson Reacts to Being Labeled Embarrassing Failure After Dive Earns 0.0 Score
- Cate Blanchett talks new movie 'Borderlands': 'It's not Citizen Kane!'
- The Beverly Hills Hotel x Stoney Clover Lane Collab Is Here—Shop Pink Travel Finds & Banana Leaf Bags
Recommendation
-
NBPA reaches Kyle Singler’s family after cryptic Instagram video draws concern
-
Ohio woman claims she saw a Virgin Mary statue miracle, local reverend skeptical
-
'Criminals are preying on Windows users': Software subject of CISA, cybersecurity warnings
-
2024 Olympics: Runner Noah Lyles Exits Race in Wheelchair After Winning Bronze With COVID Diagnosis
-
Worker trapped under rubble after construction accident in Kentucky
-
Fighting Father Time: LeBron James, Diana Taurasi still chasing Olympic gold
-
Georgia school chief says AP African American Studies can be taught after legal opinion
-
Fewer Americans file for jobless benefits last week, but applications remain slightly elevated