Prof. Kirtley Discusses Potential TV Station Liability for Super PAC Political Ads on MPR

Professor Jane Kirtley discussed WCCO TV's decision to pull a political advertisement sponsored by a Super PAC, which congressional candidate Chip Cravaack claims defamed him. Kirtley explained that although broadcasters are immune from suit for candidate-approved advertisements which the broadcasters are not allowed to censor, stations can be sued for libelous "attack" advertisements sponsored by other groups. She noted, however, that because of the strong First Amendment protection for political speech, most campaign ads will be treated as opinion and would not be actionable.