Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters’ campaign has agreed to pay a $68,000 fine following allegations of campaign finance violations from 2020. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) found that the campaign committee, Citizens for Waters, violated multiple election rules by failing to accurately report financial transactions and accepting excessive donations, which exceeded legal limits.
The FEC investigation revealed that the campaign accepted $19,000 in contributions from seven individuals, far exceeding the $2,800 annual cap. The committee also made four cash disbursements totaling $7,000, all exceeding $100, which are deemed prohibited under campaign finance laws. The campaign admitted to the violations and agreed to pay the fine along with attending a FEC-sponsored training program to address the issues.
Waters, a long-serving House Democrat, has faced prior scrutiny, including an investigation in 2022 that found she paid her daughter $192,000 for campaign-related work. The FEC dismissed a 2018 complaint about illegal contributions with a 5-1 vote. The new allegations highlight ongoing concerns about campaign finance compliance for high-profile politicians.