Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) and her 2020 campaign committee, Citizens for Waters, have agreed to pay a $68,000 fine following a Federal Election Commission (FEC) investigation into multiple campaign finance violations. The FEC found that the campaign accepted $19,000 in excessive contributions from seven individuals, exceeding the $2,800 per person limit, and made four prohibited cash disbursements totaling $7,000, each over the $100 limit. The committee acknowledged these errors were inadvertent and not willful, attributing them to limited staff availability and resources during the pandemic. To resolve the matter without litigation, the campaign has amended its financial reports to correct the misstatements and refunded or disgorged all excess contributions. Additionally, the campaign’s treasurer is required to attend a Commission-sponsored training program for political committees within one year.

This fine adds to a history of scrutiny over Waters’ campaign finances. In 2023, reports revealed that her campaign paid her daughter, Karen Waters, over $192,000 for managing a controversial “slate mailer” operation, raising ethical concerns. Critics argue that such repeated violations reflect ongoing issues with oversight and transparency in her campaign’s financial practices.

While Waters’ legal team maintains that the violations were administrative oversights rather than intentional misconduct, the FEC’s findings highlight the need for stricter adherence to campaign finance laws. The settlement, including the fine and mandatory training, serves as a reminder of the importance of compliance in maintaining public trust in the electoral process.