Rep. Maxine Waters’ 2020 campaign fined $68K after FEC found multiple finance law violations, including excess donations.

FEC Finds Multiple Violations in Waters’ 2020 Campaign

California Representative Maxine Waters’ campaign committee has agreed to pay a $68,000 fine following a Federal Election Commission (FEC) investigation into campaign finance violations committed during the 2020 election cycle. The violations, involving improper contributions and disbursements, were outlined in documents released by the FEC on Friday.

The committee, Citizens for Waters, was found to have failed to accurately report receipts and disbursements, knowingly accepted excessive contributions, and made prohibited cash disbursements. The findings are part of a legally binding agreement allowing the campaign to avoid court proceedings.

According to the agreement, the campaign accepted excessive individual contributions from seven donors totaling $19,000 during 2019 and 2020. Federal law at the time limited individual contributions to $2,800. Although the campaign eventually refunded the excess funds, the FEC noted the returns were “untimely.”

Additionally, the campaign made four unlawful cash disbursements, each over $100, amounting to a total of $7,000—another violation of federal election regulations. In response, the committee claimed it had retained legal counsel to guide the treasurer and implemented internal controls to ensure future compliance.

As part of the resolution, the campaign agreed to submit its treasurer to a Commission-sponsored training program for political committees within a year. The FEC also requires proof of registration and attendance at the session to ensure compliance.

Leilani Beaver, legal counsel for Citizens for Waters, had previously submitted a letter to the FEC asserting the violations were not intentional. She described them as errors that “were not willful or purposeful.”

Rep. Waters, a senior Democrat and the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, has served in Congress since 1991. Though this is not the first time her campaign has faced scrutiny, the FEC has previously dismissed other complaints, including one in 2018 alleging illegal contributions, which was rejected by a 5-1 vote.

In a separate issue highlighted last year, Waters’ campaign reportedly paid her daughter $192,300 for managing a slate mailer operation between January 2021 and December 2022. The payment drew public attention, though it was not part of the FEC’s current enforcement action.

With the settlement finalized, the FEC action closes a chapter in the campaign’s financial compliance record, though the additional scrutiny could persist. The commission’s enforcement highlights ongoing efforts to uphold transparency and adherence to campaign finance laws.