The campaign committee of longtime California Representative Maxine Waters has agreed to pay a $68,000 fine after a Federal Election Commission (FEC) investigation uncovered multiple violations of campaign finance regulations during the 2020 election cycle.

The investigation found that Waters’ campaign group, Citizens for Waters, had inaccurately reported financial activity, accepted contributions beyond legal limits, and made cash payments that exceeded allowable amounts.

As part of a legal agreement to resolve the matter without going to court, Waters’ campaign agreed to pay the civil fine and send its treasurer to an FEC-sponsored training course on proper campaign finance procedures. The committee must also provide documentation proving the treasurer’s attendance.

Waters’ legal team maintained that the violations were not intentional. Attorney Leilani Beaver stated that the errors were not “willful or purposeful,” and noted that the campaign had taken steps to improve compliance by consulting legal counsel and updating its internal procedures. Read more below