Floyd Abrams on Super PACs and the Legacy of Citizens United

The Takeaway

Nearly two years ago, a bitterly divided Supreme Court ruled that the American government could not ban political spending by corporations and labor unions during electoral campaigns. The case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, overruled important precedents about the First Amendment rights of corporations and dramatically altered the way campaigns are conducted.   One major outcome of the decision is the prevalence of  Super PACs. Floyd Abrams  is a First Amendment lawyer who represented Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. He joins the program to discuss the legacy of the ruling and the impact of Super PACs on this primary season.

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