Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Ballot Access Advisor is accused of assault.

RFK Jr. Ballot Access Advisor accused of committing assault.

Last week, on a Saturday morning, Trent Pool, a consultant who regularly works with the independent candidate’s voting access team, was taken into custody at the Soho Grand Hotel in Manhattan. He was charged with assault and obstruction of breathing during an argument with a 25-year-old woman. According to a New York City police spokesperson, the woman alleged that after the verbal disagreement, Pool held her neck tightly, making it difficult for her to breathe. He then hit her in the face with a closed fist, causing pain. The woman decided not to seek medical attention.

On the same day, Pool was released on bail. His next scheduled court appearance should take place in June, according to his attorney’s statement reported by CNN. This news was initially announced by Mediaite.

Regarding the incident, Kennedy campaign spokesperson Stefanie Spear said in a statement to CNN: “Trent is a contractor and he has indicated that the alleged incident never occurred.”

CNN attempted to reach Pool, who referred questions to his attorney, Gregory Esposito. In his statement to CNN, Esposito emphasized his client’s innocence and expressed optimism about proving it in court.

Over the years, Pool has been instrumental in shaping the Kennedy campaign’s ballot access strategy. Along with Paul Rossi, the nation’s leading voting rights access attorney, and Nick Brana, director of voting access, Pool has made significant campaign contributions in numerous states.

Pool’s company, Accelevate 2020, has worked with the Kennedy camp in a federal lawsuit in Utah defending an extension of the state’s deadline for independent candidates to secure ballot access. Previously, Rossi represented Pool before joining the Kennedy campaign.

So far, the Kennedy campaign has paid Accelevate 2020 $390,000 for campaign consulting, according to federal campaign finance records. Under Pool’s leadership, the campaign team has created a signature-gathering initiative, conducted largely by volunteers and with the help of professional petition circulators. Two people with knowledge of the campaign confirmed this to CNN.

Public Appeal LLC, a company founded by Pool and his brother, received $1.1 million from super PAC American Values ​​​​2024 for voting access work in 2021.

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Source: edition.cnn.com