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Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attends a press conference in the New York borough of Brooklyn on May 1, 2024. A consultant working with the team coordinating Kennedy’s ballot access effort has been arrested on April 27 and charged with assault and felony obstruction of breathing.
CNN
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A high-ranking poll access consultant for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign was charged with assault in Manhattan last week, the New York Police Department told CNN.
Trent Pool, a consultant who works closely with the team coordinating the independent candidate’s ballot access effort, was arrested on Saturday morning last week at the Soho Grand Hotel in Manhattan and charged with assault and criminal obstruction of breathing. An NYPD spokesperson told CNN that an unidentified 25-year-old woman said that after a verbal dispute, Pool “wrapped his hand around her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe, and then hit her in the face with his closed fist, causing pain.” The woman refused medical attention at the scene.
Pool was released on bail later in the day Saturday, Pool’s lawyer told CNN. His first court appearance is scheduled for June. The arrest was first reported by Mediaite.
Kennedy campaign spokeswoman Stefanie Spear said in a statement to CNN: “Trent is a contractor. He tells us the alleged incident never occurred.”
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 hope to demonstrate this in court.”
The pool played an important role in the campaign’s ballot access strategy. He worked closely with Paul Rossi, the campaign’s lead voting access lawyer, who led it through legal challenges in several states, and director of voting access Nick Brana, to shape the strategy in several states, said a campaign official to CNN.
Pool’s company, Accelevate 2020, joined the Kennedy campaign in a federal lawsuit in Utah seeking to extend the state’s deadline for independent candidates to request ballot access. Rossi previously represented Pool before joining Kennedy’s campaign.
The Kennedy campaign paid Accelevate 2020 nearly $390,000 for campaign consulting, federal campaign finance records show. Pool helped incorporate professional petition circulators into the campaign’s signature-gathering operation, which is largely staffed by volunteers, two sources familiar with the campaign told CNN.
American Values 2024, a super PAC supporting Kennedy, paid $1.1 million for ballot access work this year to Public Appeal LLC, a company founded by Pool and his brother, according to public records.
CNN has reached out to American Values 2024 for comment.
