Putting aside the obvious low-level tyranny that this woman suffered, these sorts of results bring the legal system into disrepute. It is understandable that in most cases, judges do not examine civil settlements, but when courts become vehicles for extortion for political speech, judges should look at these sorts of things. But of course, they do not. Our court system has a great deal of coercive power, and often it is abused. That’s a problem. What answer would a judge have to this woman who asked him or her: “I am out thousands of dollars in fees for speaking–you did nothing. Why is that acceptable?” There is no good answer.

This woman had to play defense. She does not get her money back. She had years of stress and anguish—all because what, she wanted to participate in the political process. This incident beings into sharp relief the utter cravenness of one Barack Obama. The Citizens United case was about the criminalization of political speech. Obama, by his actions, shows that he supports locking people up for political speech, and that, by definition, makes him a threat to freedom.

Donald Trump, unfortunately, seems to have some of the same impulses, but the difference is that he appoints judges that will vigorously enforce the rights granted by the First Amendment.