U.S. House: Reform Groups Press Ethics Committee to Resume Work on Unresolved Case of Rep. Maxine Waters

Today, the Campaign Legal Center joined with a coalition of reform groups to urge the House ethics committee to resume its work on the pending investigation of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and provide the public with an accounting of the status of the case.

The case has been pending for more than two years and a scheduled hearing in November was abruptly cancelled without explanation.

The organizations signing the letter include the Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, CREW, Democracy 21, League of Women Voters and Public Citizen.

The full letter follows below.

March 23, 2011

The Hon. Jo Bonner, Chairman

The Hon. Linda T. Sanchez, Ranking Member

House Committee on Ethics

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

                RE:  Status of the Matter Regarding Rep. Maxine Waters

Dear House Committee on Ethics:

Our organizations – Campaign Legal Center, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Common Cause, Democracy 21, League of Women Voters and Public Citizen – are concerned about the length of time it has taken the House Committee on Ethics to investigate and conclude the Matter Re: Representative Maxine Waters. We are writing to ask the Committee to inform us and the public when it plans to resume its work and adjudicate the case.

The investigation of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Cal.) has been pending for approximately two years. The case involves allegations that the Waters and/or her staff in 2008 engaged in improper behavior that resulted in substantial financial gain for the Representative.

The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) began its investigation into the allegations on April 2, 2009, and recommended on August 6, 2009, that the Committee on Ethics further investigate the matter. The Committee on Ethics accepted the recommendations of OCE and set up an investigatory subcommittee on October 7, 2010, which on June 15 recommended an adjudicatory hearing. The Committee on Ethics agreed and scheduled a hearing to take place on November 29, 2010, which was suddenly cancelled without explanation by the Committee ten days prior to the hearing.

Recent news reports indicate that the Committee has no plans yet for resuming the investigation or adjudicatory hearing and concluding the matter.

These delays, followed by uncertainty whether any action is forthcoming, are unfair to all parties involved in the case and reflect poorly on the ability of the House Committee on Ethics to fulfill its mission.

We request that the committee inform us and the public about when the Committee is planning to resume its work on this case and when the Committee is anticipating completing its adjudication of this case.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Campaign Legal Center

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Common Cause

Democracy 21

League of Women Voters

Public Citizen