Maxine Waters

In 2010 the House Ethics Committee charged Waters with three counts of violating House rules in connection with assistance provided to OneUnited Bank, in which her husband held a financial stake, as it sought federal bailout (TARP) funds during the 2008 financial crisis (the bank ultimately received about $12 million). After a multi-year process that included allegations of mishandling by committee staff and an outside-counsel review, the committee cleared Waters of all charges on September 21, 2012, concluding she had not violated the rules. Her grandson and chief of staff, Mikael Moore, was separately found to have violated standards of conduct and received a letter of admonition.

The OCE referred a matter to the Committee in August 2009 alleging that Waters improperly arranged a September 2008 meeting between Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and OneUnited Bank representatives at a time when her husband Sidney Williams held stock (valued $500,000–$1,000,000) in the bank and had recently served on its board. The OCE found 'substantial reason to believe' she advocated for a $12 million TARP bailout for OneUnited while her husband held stock. The Investigative Subcommittee issued a Statement of Alleged Violation on July 28, 2010 charging three counts: (1) failing to conduct herself in a manner reflecting creditably on the House; (2) using her position to benefit herself financially; and (3) dispensing improper favors. After years of delay—including postponement when new documents emerged—the full Committee voted unanimously 10-0 on September 21, 2012 to clear Waters, finding the evidence insufficient. Her chief of staff Moore was separately reproved.

The FEC investigated Citizens for Waters (Waters' campaign committee, treasurer David Gould) for violations during the 2019–2020 election cycle. The committee accepted $19,000 in excessive contributions from seven donors who exceeded the $2,800-per-election individual limit; made four prohibited cash disbursements totaling $7,000 (each exceeding the $100 cash limit) to reimburse Get Out The Vote canvassers during COVID-19; and understated $262,391 in receipts and $256,154 in disbursements in calendar year 2020 without timely amending reports. The FEC's conciliation agreement was accepted on April 29, 2025, with the findings published May 30, 2025. Waters' attorney characterized the errors as not willful or purposeful.