Trent Pool, a high-ranking ballot access consultant for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign, was charged with assault in Manhattan recently. Pool was arrested at the Soho Grand Hotel in Manhattan and charged with assault and criminal obstruction of breathing after a verbal dispute with a 25-year-old woman. The woman stated that Pool wrapped his hand around her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe, and then struck her in the face with a closed fist. Pool was released on bond and his first court appearance is scheduled for June. The Kennedy campaign spokesperson stated that Pool is a contractor and denies that the alleged incident ever occurred.
Pool has been a key player in the Kennedy campaign’s ballot access strategy, working closely with the campaign’s main ballot access lawyer, Paul Rossi, and ballot access director, Nick Brana. Pool’s firm, Accelevate 2020, has been involved in a federal lawsuit in Utah seeking to extend the state’s deadline for independent candidates to apply for ballot access. Accelevate 2020 has been paid nearly $390,000 by the Kennedy campaign for consulting services. Pool has helped incorporate professional petition circulators into the campaign’s signature gathering operation, which is predominantly made up of volunteers.
In addition to his work with the Kennedy campaign, Pool’s firm Public Appeal LLC, founded by him and his brother, received $1.1 million from the super PAC American Values 2024 for ballot access work this year. The Kennedy campaign and American Values 2024 have relied on Pool and his firm for their ballot access efforts in various states. Despite the charges against him, Pool maintains his innocence and his attorney has stated that they look forward to demonstrating his innocence in court.
It remains to be seen how Pool’s arrest and charges will impact the Kennedy campaign’s ballot access efforts moving forward. Pool’s role in shaping strategy in various states has been crucial to the campaign, and his absence could potentially create challenges for the campaign. The Kennedy campaign and the super PAC backing him have paid substantial amounts to Pool’s firm for their services, highlighting the importance of their work in ensuring Kennedy’s candidacy is able to secure ballot access in key states. The campaign’s response to these allegations and their continued reliance on Pool and his firm will likely be closely watched in the coming months as the presidential race heats up.
