Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Threatens Legal Action Against Nevada Over Ballot Access Dispute

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign is embroiled in a legal battle with Nevada over his petition to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate. The dispute arose after CBS News reported that the signatures he had gathered might be invalidated due to the absence of a vice presidential candidate on his petition.

Alleged Invention of New Rule

According to the Kennedy campaign, the Democratic Party is accused of inventing a new rule to invalidate the signatures collected in Nevada. This purported rule states that a vice presidential candidate must be named in an independent candidate's petition, and has been in effect since 1993 in Nevada.

Rossi also expressed the campaign's intention to depose the Secretary of State to uncover the origins of this alleged scheme.

Erroneous Communication

Furthermore, the campaign revealed an email exchange from November 14, in which the secretary of state's office incorrectly stated that the petition did not require a named running mate. However, documents later revealed that Kennedy only named himself on his candidate petition, in violation of the Nevada statutes, potentially rendering the collected signatures void.

The secretary of state's office acknowledged the misinformation provided to the campaign and assured that it was an error, with no intention to benefit or harm any political party or candidate for office.

Implications and Response

Currently, Kennedy is only on the ballot in Utah, despite claims by his campaign of qualifying for the ballot in several other states. The campaign plans to reveal the running mate on Tuesday in Oakland.

The secretary of state's office emphasized that despite their initial error, it is the responsibility of Kennedy's campaign to adhere to the statute. They also asserted that if following the erroneous guidance would conflict with the law, the agency is not permitted to honor the employee's statements.

Upcoming Developments

As Kennedy's legal battle continues, his campaign remains focused on gaining ballot access in multiple states. The unveiling of his running mate in Oakland is anticipated to be a significant moment in his independent candidacy for the 2024 election.