How the 2016 Election Is Testing the Legal Standard on Corruption

In deciding a landmark case on campaign finance six years ago, the Supreme Court drew a bright line between actual corruption and the mere appearance of impropriety.

In its Citizens United decision, the majority of the court argued that "the appearance of influence or access" to a politician "will not cause the electorate to lose faith in this democracy."

Now Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are testing that proposition in very similar ways.