Amicus Brief: US v. Danielczyk

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CCP filed what is known as a “friend of the court brief” disagreeing with the government’s argument that corporate contributions to candidates – even if they are limited to the same amounts individuals can contribute – can be constitutionally prohibited because of their corrupting influence.

In the brief, Legal Director Allen Dickerson makes the point that limitations on campaign speech are only constitutional if they advance an important government interest, and while corruption and the appearance of corruption fulfill that interest, the government failed to offer evidence of corruption because they neglected the experiences of the 50 states. Over half of the states, the brief maintains, permit contributions similar to those at issue in Danielczyk.