MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) — Alabama Attorney General Steven T. Marshall announced April 25 that he supports the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reject a challenge to Alabama’s PAC-to-PAC transfer ban.
“Alabama’s legal battle to fight political corruption gained a tremendous boost from the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to deny a challenge by the Alabama Democratic Conference against the state’s PAC-to-PAC transfer ban,” Marshall said.
The law was enacted in 2010 to ban the transfer of campaign funds between political action committees (PAC). A U.S. District Court ruled July 31, 2015, that the law was necessary to combat political corruption and did not violate the First Amendment. On Sept. 27, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit upheld the ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court has also upheld the decision, finding no merit in the opponent’s challenge.
“Alabama’s PAC-to-PAC transfer ban continues to be a vital tool in combating campaign corruption by removing barriers to transparency and the sources of political funds,” Marshall said. “The Supreme Court decision to deny a challenge to the law should send notice to all that Alabama will not tolerate political corruption.”
Marshall thanked his constitutional defense section for working on the case, particularly assistant attorney general Will Parker and solicitor general Andrew Brasher.