New York homeowner testifies that RFK Jr. rents out a room

Under questioning by Kennedy’s attorney, William F. Savino, Moss told the court in the state capital of Albany that Kennedy was her tenant and paid $500 a month for a room. There is no written lease, she said.

“As long as Bobby needs the room, it will continue,” he said. “That was the understanding.”

Moss identified photographs she had recently taken of the bedroom that showed Kennedy’s clothing in the closet and dresser drawers. And she testified that she received mail regularly at the home.

A lawyer for the plaintiffs, John Quinn, said the first payment to Moss was made on May 20, the day after the New York Post published an article that cast doubt on Kennedy’s claim that he lived at the address. And Moss said the initial payment was $6,000, an amount equal to a year’s worth of back rent.

The suit claims Kennedy “at most only visited” the residence about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of midtown Manhattan.

Kennedy’s lawyers have maintained that the 70-year-old, who led a New York-based environmental group for decades and whose father was a New York senator, has lived in the state since he was 10 and only “temporarily” moved to California for the career of his wife, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actress Cheryl Hines.

Kennedy has said in court papers that he moved to the Katonah address after being asked to leave a nearby home he had been staying at last year. That account was challenged in court Monday by the owners of that home, who said Kennedy was never a tenant. One of Kennedy’s cousins, Stephen Smith Jr., also testified remotely, saying he once dined at a California home the candidate shares with Hines.

The case was brought on behalf of several New York voters by Clear Choice PAC, a super PAC led by supporters of Democratic President Joe Biden. A judge will decide the outcome without a jury.

Although independent presidential candidates like Kennedy have very little chance of winning, he has the potential to do better than any other candidate of his kind in decades, thanks to his famous name and a loyal base. Both Democratic and Republican strategists fear that it could negatively affect their candidates’ chances.

Kennedy’s campaign has said it has enough signatures to elect him in 42 states so far. His campaign has faced challenges and lawsuits in several states, including North Carolina and New Jersey.