OCE Referral Regarding Rep Waters (PDF 5MB)
On August 6, 2009, the OCE transmitted a referral to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the United State House of Representatives regarding Representative Maxine Waters.
Nature of Review
Representative Maxine Waters made a request in September 2008 to then Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that Treasury Department officials meet with representatives from the National Bankers Association. A meeting was in fact granted shortly thereafter. However, at the meeting, and in the follow-up activity that occurred through Representative Waters' Congressional office, the discussion centered on a single bank--OneUnited. Representative Waters's husband had been a board member of OneUnited from 2004 to 2008 and, at the time of the meeting, was a stock holder of the bank. Representative Waters' conduct may have violated House Rule 23, clause 3 (by permitting compensation to accrue to her beneficial interest) and House precedent regarding conflicts of interest.
OCE Recommendation
The Board of the OCE recommended that the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct further review the above allegations.
Committee Action
On October 29, 2009, the Standards Committee established an Investigative Subcommittee regarding this matter.
On July 28, 2010, the Investigative Subcommittee transmitted a Statement of Alleged Violation to the Chair and Ranking of the Standards Committee. The Chair designated members of the Standards Committee to serve on an Adjudicatory Subcommittee. On August 2, 2010, the Standards Committee published OCE's referral.
On November 19, 2010, the Standards Committee recommited the matter to the Investigative Subcommittee.
On September 21, 2012, the Committee adopted a report determining that the evidence does not establish that Representative Waters violated House rules. The Committee also issued a letter of reproval to Representative Waters' Chief of Staff, Mikael Moore, for taking certain actions on behalf of OneUnited when he knew, or should have known, of Representative Waters' personal financial obligation.
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