Recently, a high-ranking ballot access consultant for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign found himself in legal trouble. The consultant, Trent Pool, was charged with assault and criminal obstruction of breathing following an incident at the Soho Grand Hotel in Manhattan. According to the New York Police Department, Pool allegedly wrapped his hand around a woman's neck during a verbal dispute, making it difficult for her to breathe, and then struck her in the face with a closed fist.
Pool, who is a key figure in the campaign's ballot access strategy, was arrested and later released on bond. His attorney maintains his innocence, stating that the alleged incident never occurred. Pool's first court appearance is scheduled for June.
Despite the charges, the Kennedy campaign spokesperson emphasized that Pool is a contractor and denied the allegations. Pool's firm, Accelevate 2020, has been instrumental in the campaign's ballot access efforts, working closely with the campaign's legal team to navigate legal challenges in various states.
Accelevate 2020, led by Pool and his brother, has been paid a substantial amount for campaign consulting by the Kennedy campaign and a super PAC supporting Kennedy. The firm has been involved in incorporating professional petition circulators into the campaign's signature gathering operation.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications of Pool's arrest on the Kennedy campaign's ballot access strategy remain to be seen. The campaign continues to focus on its objectives amidst this development.
