California Democrat Maxine Waters finds herself in legal trouble again, reportedly for breaching multiple campaign finance regulations this time around.
The Federal Election Commission’s case against Waters’ 2020 Campaign Committee, titled Citizens for Citizens, claims that the committee “struggled to accurately report its receipts and expenses,” “knowingly accepted excessive contributions,” and “made prohibited cash payments.”
“The committee recognizes that an error was made, intentionally but not with intent to deceive,” the document states.
A mediation agreement sent by the FEC to the committee’s treasurer outlined the alleged infractions.
“In 2020, the committee recorded a modest $262,391 in receipts and $256,154 in disbursements, later adjusting its report to amend these inaccuracies,” the agreement indicated.
The committee also faced allegations of receiving “over contributions” from seven individuals, totaling $19,000, which were neither refunded nor reclaimed in a timely manner. The terms suggested that the Waters Campaign “either made an excessive contribution too early or disguised it.”
“Throughout 2020, the committee made four unauthorized cash payments, each exceeding $100, culminating in a total of $7,000,” the agreement elaborated.
The campaign agreed to these violations and has taken on a civil penalty of $68,000. Furthermore, as part of the settlement, campaign accounting personnel will participate in a training program organized by a political committee.
Leilani Beaver, the campaign’s lawyer, indicated in January 2024 that the committee “acknowledged that an error occurred, but it was unintentional.”
According to Beaver, the “error” stemmed from “limited staffing and resources during the pandemic.”
When inquiries were made to the Waters Campaign and her congressional office, neither responded to the questions presented.
This isn’t the first instance where Waters has been accused of mishandling campaign funds. Previously, she faced allegations of using campaign contributions to pay her daughter’s firm, which received $1.2 million over two years in “slate mailer management fees.”
Moreover, the House Ethics Committee, back in 2010, charged Waters with violating conflict-of-interest regulations due to potential benefits given to a bank with connections to her husband, although those charges were ultimately dismissed.
