The 2020 reelection campaign for Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., was fined $68,000 for violating federal campaign finance laws. The fine followed a Federal Election Commission investigation that found Waters’ committee understated contributions and spending and accepted excessive contributions.
The Citizens for Waters committee accepted $19,000 in excessive contributions from seven individuals and made four prohibited cash disbursements totaling $7,000 from petty cash.
Waters’ attorney stated the campaign committee acknowledged errors were not willful, attributing them to limited staff and pandemic-related resource constraints, and amended reports accordingly.
The campaign agreed to pay the fine, cease violations, and send its treasurer to mandated training, highlighting ongoing scrutiny of Waters’ long tenure since 1991.
