Consultant for RFK Jr.'s ballot access accused of committing assault.
Last week, on a Saturday morning, Trent Pool, a consultant who frequently collaborates with the independent candidate's ballot access team, was taken into custody at the Soho Grand Hotel in Manhattan. He was accused of committing assault and hindering someone's breathing during an argument with a 25-year-old woman. According to a New York City police spokesperson, the woman claimed that following the verbal disagreement, Pool tightly grasped her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe. He then hit her in the face with a closed fist, causing pain. The woman chose not to seek medical attention.
On the same day, Pool was released on bail. His next scheduled court appearance is supposed to take place in June, as per his attorney's statement reported by CNN. This news was initially publicized by Mediaite.
In regards to the incident, Kennedy campaign spokesperson Stefanie Spear said in a statement to CNN: "Trent is a contractor, and he has expressed that the alleged occurrence never took place."
CNN tried to reach out to Pool, who forwarded inquiries to his attorney, Gregory Esposito. In his statement to CNN, Esposito insisted his client's innocence and expressed his optimism about proving it in court.
Over the years, Pool has been instrumental in shaping the Kennedy campaign's ballot access strategy. Alongside the main ballot access lawyer, Paul Rossi, and ballot access director Nick Brana, Pool has contributed significantly to the campaign's plan in numerous states.
Pool's firm, Accelevate 2020, has collaborated 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, as per federal campaign finance records. Under Pool's guidance, the campaign team has established a signature gathering initiative largely conducted by volunteers, using professional petition circulators. Two individuals who are knowledgeable about the campaign confirmed this to CNN.
Public Appeal LLC, a company founded by Pool and his brother, received $1.1 million from the super PAC American Values 2024 for ballot access work in 2021.
Read also:
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
- Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
- UN vote urges Israel to ceasefire
- SPD rules out budget resolution before the end of the year
Source: edition.cnn.com
