RFK Jr. Ballot Access Consultant Accused of Assault | News

(CNN) – A high-ranking ballot access consultant for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign. was charged with assault in Manhattan last week, New York police told CNN.

Trent Pool, a consultant who works closely with the team coordinating access to the independent candidate’s ballots, was arrested early Saturday morning at the Soho Grand Hotel in Manhattan and charged with assault and criminal obstruction of breathing. A New York City police spokesperson told CNN that an unidentified 25-year-old woman said that after a verbal dispute, Pool “put his hand around her neck making it difficult for her to breathe and then punched her in the face with a closed fist.” hit. causes pain.” The woman refused medical attention at the scene.

Pool was released on bail later in the day, Pool’s attorney told CNN. His first court appearance is scheduled for June. The arrest was first reported by Mediaite.

Kennedy campaign spokesperson Stefanie Spear said in a statement to CNN: “Trent is a contractor. He tells us the alleged incident never happened.”

CNN contacted Pool, who referred questions to his attorney. Pool’s attorney Gregory Esposito said in a statement to CNN: “Mr. Trent Pool is innocent of all charges and we look forward to proving this in court.”

Pool has been instrumental in the campaign’s ballot access strategy. He has worked closely with Paul Rossi, the campaign’s top lawyer, who has guided the campaign through legal challenges in a number of states, and with voting rights director Nick Brana to shape the strategy in several states, a campaign official told CNN.

Pool’s company, Accelevate 2020, joined the Kennedy campaign in a federal lawsuit in Utah to extend the state’s deadline for independent candidates to apply for ballot access. Rossi previously represented Pool before joining the Kennedy campaign.

The Kennedy campaign paid Accelevate 2020 nearly $390,000 for campaign consulting, federal campaign finance records show. Pool has helped incorporate professional petition circulators into the campaign’s signature collection, which is largely made up of volunteers, two sources familiar with the campaign told CNN.

American Values ​​2024, a super PAC supporting Kennedy, paid $1.1 million this year for voting access work to Public Appeal LLC, a company founded by Pool and his brother, according to public records.

CNN has contacted American Values ​​2024 for comment.