This election is far from normal. It could be the most unique in American history.
And now the bizarre past of this presidential candidate completely changes the 2024 race.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. narrowly escaped a fine for a bizarre and unlawful act involving a dead bear cub in New York’s Central Park.
Although the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) led the investigation into the incident, the statute of limitations for the decade-old offense has expired.
In 2014, the discovery of the dead cub in the heart of Manhattan sparked headlines, but investigators couldn’t determine how it ended up there.
Now, Kennedy has confessed in a video posted on social media, attempting to preempt a New Yorker story that identified him as the culprit.
Speaking with Roseanne Barr, Kennedy admitted he found the cub outside the city after it was hit by a car. His initial plan to skin and eat it fell through, leading him to abandon it near a bike path in Central Park as a joke. At the time, he was 60 years old.
The DEC’s statement confirmed their investigation concluded the bear cub died from blunt-force trauma, consistent with a high-speed collision.
However, the probe was closed due to insufficient evidence to determine if any violations occurred.
According to the agency, disposing of a dead bear in the manner Kennedy did is illegal under the State’s Environmental Conservation Law.
Offenses such as illegal possession of a bear without a tag or permit and illegal disposal can result in fines up to $250 for a first offense. However, the statute of limitations for these offenses is one year.
Ron Kuby, a seasoned New York criminal defense lawyer, noted that while Kennedy could have faced additional penalties from the city for illegal dumping, he would not have faced criminal charges.
“It’s barely illegal,” Kuby remarked, likening the state violation to a traffic offense.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander demanded that Kennedy pay a significantly larger sum.
“Bear with me for a moment — I did the math, and on behalf of all New Yorkers, I demand that @RobertKennedyJr promptly send the City of New York what he owes for his ursine exploits,” Lander posted on X, calculating Kennedy owed the city nearly $24,000 with accrued interest.
Kennedy’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
The city Department of Sanitation used the incident as a teaching moment, posting on social media about proper animal disposal.
Their post humorously referenced fictional characters and linked to guidelines on their website.
The DEC also provided a link on how to legally dispose of animals outside the city, reminding individuals that they must report and obtain a permit from either DEC or local law enforcement to legally possess a deer, moose, or bear unintentionally killed by a collision.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
