Rep. Maxine Waters’ 2020 campaign committee, Citizens for Waters, has consented to pay a fine of $68,000 following an investigation by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that revealed several violations of campaign finance laws. Official documents indicate that the committee did not accurately report its financial activities, accepted donations that exceeded the allowable limits, and made illegal cash payments. The agreement reached with the FEC enables both parties to circumvent litigation and mandates that the campaign treasurer participate in a training session.

The investigation determined that during 2019 and 2020, the campaign improperly received $19,000 in contributions from seven individuals, surpassing the federal limit of $2,800 per person. Although the campaign ultimately returned the excess contributions, the process was not timely. Furthermore, the FEC observed that the campaign executed four illegal cash disbursements, each exceeding $100, amounting to a total of $7,000. Waters’ team asserted that it sought legal counsel and implemented corrective measures to guarantee compliance in the future..

Leilani Beaver, an attorney representing Citizens for Waters, asserted that the violations were accidental rather than intentional.

Waters, who has been a member of Congress since 1991 and holds the position of ranking Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, has previously been scrutinized regarding her campaign finances. In 2023, it was reported that her campaign had compensated her daughter with more than $192,000 for a contentious slate mailer initiative.

The FEC has previously dismissed other claims against Waters, including a case from 2018 that involved dubious contributions. Nevertheless, the recent penalty contributes to a recurring pattern of financial controversies linked to her campaign activities. These matters have consistently attracted public and media scrutiny.

In addition to campaign finance issues, Waters has garnered attention for her candid statements. During a protest in Los Angeles, she questioned the immigration status of First Lady Melania Trump in reaction to former President Trump’s position on birthright citizenship. Furthermore, Waters has openly criticized individuals such as Elon Musk, claiming that he has exceeded his influence in U.S. financial and governmental affairs.