"I stand here on the same historic site where George Washington filed his independent expenditure-only papers," said Colbert, the satirical pundit host of the Colbert Report on Comedy Central.
In March, Colbert announced his plan to become a "political playa in 2012" by starting his own Political Action Committee called ColbertPAC. However, Comedy Central's corporate parent, Viacom, asked Colbert to cease his plans for fears that his PAC would violate campaign finance laws.
Colbert's recently retained attorney, former FEC Commissioner Trevor Potter, helped bring ColbertPAC back to life this week in the form of a super PAC.
The Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision allows for super PACs to raise unlimited funds from corporations. The Citizens United legal decision gives billionaires like the union-busting Koch brothers even more sway over government.
"What is a super PAC?" Colbert asked. "A PAC that got bitten by a radioactive lobbyist?"
After Colbert filed his paperwork and exited the FEC offices at 9th and E Streets, he told his audience that he would gladly shake hands for one dollar per person.
He then led the crowd in a cheer of, "Citizens United! Citizens United! Citizens United!"
