The reelection campaign of Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calf., will pay a $68,000 fine after an investigation determined that it violated election rules regarding fundraising.
Following an investigation, OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan campaign finance research organization, reported that the Federal Election Commission concluded Citizens for Waters, her 2020 campaign committee, and its treasurer, David Gould, had failed "to accurately report receipts and disbursements in calendar year 2020," as well as "knowingly" accepted "excessive contributions" and made "prohibited cash disbursements."
According to the FEC report, the campaign committee "does not deny the allegations. Instead, the Committee states that any errors it made were accidental, that the Committee has taken steps to both ameliorate the situation and prevent it from occurring again."
The Waters campaign has "amended its reports to correct the financial misstatements" and "refunded or disgorged all excess contributions reflected" in the FEC audit.
As part of an agreement to settle the violation without bringing the case to court, the Waters campaign will pay a $68,000 fine and will "send its treasurer to a Commission-sponsored training program for political committees."
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.