Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee and a congresswoman since 1991, has faced similar scrutiny in the past. In 2023, an investigation revealed that her campaign paid her daughter $192,300 for a “slate mailer” operation between 2021 and 2022, though she reportedly received just a single dollar for her work. In 2018, the FEC dismissed allegations of improper donations by a 5-1 vote.
The lawmaker has also drawn attention for outspoken political remarks. At a recent Los Angeles rally, she called for scrutiny of First Lady Melania Trump’s citizenship status in response to President Trump’s proposal to change birthright citizenship. Waters remarked, “We don’t know whether or not her parents were documented. And maybe we better just take a look.”
In another incident, she criticized tech entrepreneur Elon Musk at a Washington, D.C., protest, claiming he overstepped his authority by accessing private financial information without voter consent. “Nobody elected your ass. Nobody told you you could get all of our private information,” Waters said during her speech.
The civil fine and required training highlight the FEC’s enforcement of campaign finance laws, while Waters’ public commentary continues to attract national attention.
