Congresswoman Fined Over Violations
Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) is facing renewed scrutiny after her 2020 congressional campaign, Citizens for Waters, was hit with a $68,000 fine by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for multiple violations of federal campaign finance law.
According to newly released FEC documents, Waters’ campaign failed to accurately report receipts and disbursements, knowingly accepted excessive contributions, and made illegal cash disbursements — issues that watchdog groups say should concern anyone interested in transparency and accountability in public office.
The violations stem from activities during the 2020 election cycle, and include:
- $19,000 in excessive contributions beyond legal limits.
- $7,000 in prohibited cash disbursements, reportedly made from a petty cash fund.
- General failures in record-keeping and financial reporting, which the FEC determined violated multiple statutes.
To resolve the issue without escalating to court proceedings, the campaign agreed to a legally binding conciliation agreement with the FEC. Along with paying the fine, the campaign must also send its treasurer to a Commission-sponsored training program on campaign finance compliance — a rare and telling penalty typically reserved for serious violations.
Waters’ campaign attorney, Leilani Beaver, acknowledged the errors in a letter to the FEC, stating they were “not willful or purposeful,” but rather the result of limited staff and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, critics argue that such basic compliance issues reflect a pattern of poor oversight, not just pandemic-era turbulence.
BREAKING: New investigation finds Rep. Maxine Waters’ campaign guilty of violating multiple election laws, ordered to pay $68,000.
— Patrick Webb (@RealPatrickWebb) June 2, 2025
The FEC’s 4-0 vote to approve the fine occurred just before the agency entered a partial shutdown due to a commissioner’s departure, adding urgency to its enforcement decision.
Adding fuel to the fire is the longstanding controversy surrounding Waters’ daughter, Karen Waters, and her business, Progressive Connections. According to Breitbart News and OpenSecrets, the campaign sent Karen’s company $8,000 in 2020 for "slate mailer management fees," a practice critics have slammed as nepotism in plain sight.
This is not new territory for the Waters political machine. Since 2003, Progressive Connections has received over $1 million from Waters’ campaign for similar services — raising ethical questions about the use of campaign funds for family enrichment, even if technically legal.