Waters Ordered To Pay Massive Fine For Violating
FEC Fine for Campaign Violations
California Rep. Maxine Waters’ 2020 campaign, Citizens for Waters, agreed to pay a $68,000 fine after the Federal Election Commission (FEC) found multiple election law violations.
The FEC accused the campaign of “failing to accurately report receipts and disbursements in calendar year 2020,” “knowingly accepting excessive contributions,” and “making prohibited cash disbursements.”
Excess Contributions and Cash Disbursements
Citizens for Waters accepted $19,000 in contributions above the $2,800 limit and made “four prohibited cash disbursements that were each in excess of $100, totaling $7,000.”
The campaign agreed to pay the fine and send its treasurer to a training program, submitting evidence of attendance to the FEC.
Campaign Defense
Attorney Leilani Beaver said the violations were “errors” that “were not willful or purposeful.”
Waters’ committee said it retained legal counsel and implemented procedures to comply with the law.
Past Controversies
Waters has previously drawn attention for paying her daughter $192,300 for campaign work and for making viral political statements, including targeting Melania Trump and Elon Musk.
