RFK Jr reveals he once stocked freezer with roadkill when asked about controversial bear carcass prank

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr recently revealed that collecting roadkill has been his lifelong habit. His admission followed a story resurfacing about a peculiar incident that occurred over a decade ago.

Kennedy, on a hiking trip, had picked up a dead bear cub from the side of the road, placed it in his car, and driven around with it for a day. Eventually, he dumped the carcass in Central Park with the help of some friends.

The odd tale has resurfaced as Kennedy faces scrutiny over his residency claims during a lawsuit that could impact his place on the New York ballot in the upcoming election.

RFK Jr talks about bear incident and roadkill habit

Robert F Kennedy Jr’s bear prank, initially reported by The New Yorker, has drawn widespread attention. According to the report, Kennedy came across the bear cub while hiking, decided to take it with him, and intended to skin the animal for its meat.

He later explained in a video posted to social media that the bear was in “very good condition,” and he had planned to store the meat in his refrigerator, though he did not elaborate on what he planned to do with it.

When questioned about his habit of picking up roadkill, Kennedy casually responded, “I’ve been picking up roadkill my whole life. I have a freezer full of it," eliciting laughter from those present.

However, Kennedy’s campaign spokesperson Stefanie Spear later clarified that he wasn’t joking. She explained that Kennedy, who is a falconer, feeds roadkill to his birds, including ravens that he trains.

She added that Kennedy no longer has the 21-cubic-foot freezer where he used to store the roadkill, as it was located in his former residence in New York's Westchester County suburbs.

While Kennedy’s unusual roadkill habit has certainly captured public interest, it is his residency that has become the central issue in the ongoing legal battle. Kennedy is fighting to remain on the New York ballot for the upcoming election, and the lawsuit revolves around whether he falsely claimed a New York address as his primary residence.

The residence in question is a room in a home in Katonah, a suburb about 40 miles north of midtown Manhattan. Kennedy has listed this address on his nominating petitions, but evidence presented in court suggests that he has been living primarily in Los Angeles since 2014.

On the witness stand, Kennedy testified that his move to California was meant to be temporary, driven by his love for his wife, Cheryl Hines, an actress known for her role in “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” He asserted that he always intended to return to New York and that intention is the only requirement for residency.

RFK Jr's intention vs reality

RFK Jr's intention to return to New York is being heavily scrutinized in court. Attorneys representing several New York voters have presented government documents and a social media video in which Kennedy discusses taming ravens at his Los Angeles home, as evidence that he is not a New York resident.

In a tense exchange in court, attorney Keith Corbett pressed Kennedy on whether moving to California with his family and pets indicated a commitment to residing in that state.

Kennedy, however, resisted a simple “yes” or “no” answer, arguing that the situation was more complex.

“Do you want a yes or no answer, or do you want the truth?” he asked. “My intention is to return to New York and that’s the only requirement for residency."

Under questioning from his own lawyer, Kennedy explained that he moved to California out of concern for his wife’s career. He said, “I said I would figure out a way to make a living in California until we could move back, and that was our agreement.”

Kennedy also emphasized that leaving New York was difficult for him, as he had built his life there.

The residence in Katonah that Kennedy claims as his New York address has also come under scrutiny. He testified that he had only slept in the room once, citing his constant travel for his campaign as the reason.

When shown a photograph of the room, Kennedy acknowledged that the furniture and painting were not his, though he claimed the pictures on the nightstand belonged to him, even suggesting one of them might be a photo of him with Mick Jagger.

The owner of the Katonah property testified that Kennedy rents the room for $500 a month, but she admitted that payments began only in May, a day after a New York Post story questioned Kennedy’s residency claims.

Kennedy claimed he thought his assistant had been paying rent for the previous year and ensured payments were made after the story broke.

Kennedy's attorney, William F Savino, questioned why he hadn't rented or purchased a house in New York over the past decade. The White House hopeful explained that owning a home is both costly and labor-intensive. “It snows a lot here," he said. “The pipes break, the driveway needs to be plowed, and all these other burdens that are associated with home ownership.”

RFK Jr draws historical parallels

Robert F Kennedy Jr has drawn parallels between his situation and that of his father, Robert F Kennedy, who faced similar accusations of not being a New Yorker when he ran for a Senate seat in 1964. “He was also accused of not being a New Yorker,” he said.

Like his father, who rented a home on Long Island months before the election, Robert F Kennedy Jr argues that his intention to return to New York is what matters. 

The lawsuit against Kennedy is backed by Clear Choice PAC, a super PAC led by supporters of President Joe Biden. A judge will decide the outcome without a jury. While Kennedy’s campaign has stated that he has enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in most states, his candidacy faces challenges in several states, including North Carolina and New Jersey, the Independent reported,

That said, the decision in New York could have major implications for his campaign moving forward.