Ordered To Pay Massive Fine
Maxine Waters’ Campaign Fined $68,000 for Finance Violations
FEC Investigation and Findings
Rep. Maxine Waters’ campaign committee, Citizens for Waters, will pay a $68,000 fine after a Federal Election Commission (FEC) investigation revealed violations during the 2020 election cycle. The campaign failed to report donations and expenses accurately, accepted excessive contributions, and made illegal cash payments. Specifically, it took $19,000 from seven donors—surpassing the $2,800-per-person limit—and issued $7,000 in cash disbursements above the $100 threshold.
Settlement and Required Actions
To resolve the issue without litigation, the campaign agreed to the fine and must send its treasurer to an FEC training course. Proof of attendance is required. The campaign’s attorney, Leilani Beaver, emphasized that the violations were not “willful or purposeful” and said the team had “retained legal counsel and updated its internal processes.”
Ongoing Scrutiny
Waters, a long-serving congresswoman from Los Angeles and the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, has previously faced questions over her campaign’s financial practices. Between 2021 and 2022, her daughter was paid over $190,000 for work on a slate mailer project.
Enforcement and Accountability
Despite past complaints, the FEC has not found evidence of deliberate wrongdoing. A 2018 case was dismissed.
