Yup, Stephen Colbert is allowed to form his political action committee. (The full ruling of the Commission on the matter can be read here, if you’ve got the inclination to read filings from the Federal Election Commission about a joke.) The Washington Post was there to supply the play-by-play inside the FEC meeting where Colbert testified — which, honestly, sounded quite boring:

But Colbert himself said very little during the hearing, leaving most of the talking up to his attorney, Trevor Potter, and to FEC commissioners.

Meaning there were almost no jokes at all.

“If we had viewed this as just a funny request, that would have been a lot easier,” said Ellen Weintraub, a Democratic FEC member.

Of course, Colbert’s speech after leaving the hearing (see video above) was a little livelier. “I am here to represent your voice, so please quiet down so we can all hear what you have to say with my mouth,” said Colbert, donning a badge identifying him as “Steve C.”, before ripping off a cavalcade of one-liners.