diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/api.py b/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
index 64027c456..1b09e70d5 100755
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
@@ -1675,11 +1675,11 @@ class ApiController(RedditController, OAuth2ResourceController):
 
     @require_oauth2_scope("modposts")
     @noresponse(VUser(), VModhash(),
-                why = VSrCanBan('id'),
+                VSrCanBan('id'),
                 thing = VByName('id'),
                 spam = VBoolean('spam', default=True))
     @api_doc(api_section.moderation)
-    def POST_remove(self, why, thing, spam):
+    def POST_remove(self, thing, spam):
 
         # Don't remove a promoted link
         if getattr(thing, "promoted", None):
@@ -1714,10 +1714,10 @@ class ApiController(RedditController, OAuth2ResourceController):
 
     @require_oauth2_scope("modposts")
     @noresponse(VUser(), VModhash(),
-                why = VSrCanBan('id'),
+                VSrCanBan('id'),
                 thing = VByName('id'))
     @api_doc(api_section.moderation)
-    def POST_approve(self, why, thing):
+    def POST_approve(self, thing):
         if not thing: return
         if thing._deleted: return
         kw = {'target': thing}
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py b/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
index 66b4cc401..de306f48b 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@ class VSrCanAlter(VByName):
 class VSrCanBan(VByName):
     def run(self, thing_name):
         if c.user_is_admin:
-            return 'admin'
+            return True
         elif c.user_is_loggedin:
             item = VByName.run(self, thing_name)
             # will throw a legitimate 500 if this isn't a link or
@@ -840,9 +840,7 @@ class VSrCanBan(VByName):
             # comments
             subreddit = item.subreddit_slow
             if subreddit.is_moderator(c.user):
-                return 'mod'
-            # elif subreddit.is_contributor(c.user):
-            #     return 'contributor'
+                return True
         abort(403,'forbidden')
 
 class VSrSpecial(VByName):