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Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), a prominent member of the House of Representatives and the ranking Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, has agreed to a $68,000 fine after her campaign committee was found to have committed multiple violations of federal campaign finance laws.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) released documents on Friday detailing its findings following an investigation into Citizens for Waters, the campaign committee for the longtime California lawmaker. The probe focused on the 2020 election cycle and concluded that the campaign had failed to adhere to several key financial regulations.
According to a legally binding conciliation agreement between the FEC and Citizens for Waters, the committee was cited for “failing to accurately report receipts and disbursements,” “knowingly accepting excessive contributions,” and “making prohibited cash disbursements.” By entering into the agreement, the campaign avoids a prolonged legal battle in court, instead agreeing to pay a civil penalty and comply with certain corrective measures.
One of the most significant violations uncovered by the FEC was the acceptance of excessive campaign contributions from seven individual donors. These contributions totaled $19,000, well above the legal limit of $2,800 per donor per election during the 2019–2020 cycle. Although Citizens for Waters did refund the excess amounts, the FEC noted the reimbursements were made “untimely,” reducing the campaign’s compliance standing.
In addition to the excessive contributions, the FEC found that Waters’ campaign committee made four prohibited cash disbursements, each over the $100 limit set by campaign finance law. These disbursements totaled $7,000, further compounding the seriousness of the violations.
As part of the resolution, Citizens for Waters has agreed not only to pay the $68,000 fine but also to improve compliance procedures. The campaign will send its treasurer to an FEC-sponsored training program for political committees within one year of the agreement’s effective date. Proof of registration and attendance at the training must be submitted to the Commission, according to the agreement.
The campaign has maintained that these violations were not intentional. In a letter submitted to the FEC last year, Leilani Beaver, attorney for Citizens for Waters, argued that the infractions were “errors” and “were not willful or purposeful.” The campaign also stated that it had retained legal counsel to advise its treasurer and implemented procedures to prevent future violations.
Waters, who has served in Congress since 1991, remains one of the most outspoken progressive voices in the Democratic Party. While the campaign’s violations have raised questions about internal oversight, the resolution of the case through a formal agreement suggests a willingness to correct past mistakes and ensure better compliance moving forward.
This enforcement action was one of the last taken by the FEC before losing quorum in May 2025, temporarily halting its ability to carry out investigations or issue penalties.
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