Maxine Waters Ethics Charges Go to Trial During Mid-Term Elections

It's been a bad week for Congressional Democrats- deservedly so if the allegations are true. L.A. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the Los Angeles Times reports, is accused of using her influence to help OneUnited Bank, a bank with ties to her husband Sidney Williams. Williams is a previous board member and stockholder for the Massachusetts, California, and Florida branched bank. According to the New York Times, Waters used her influence in violation of House ethics rules, calling federal officials to help decide the fate of the troubled Boston-based bank. OneUnited Bank, a minority-owned financial institution, received a bailout of $12 million.

Waters faces an ethics trial this fall, which is, the Associated Press informs us, around the time New York Representative Charles Rangel faces a similar trial during election season. Numerous Democrats, Politico reports, want Rangel, the longest-serving New York Democrat, to step down.

Rep. Mike Arcuri (D-NY) became the first Democrat to call for resignation when he said of his colleague, as quoted in Politico, "Congressman Rangel should think about stepping down because this situation is beginning to affect our ability to govern."

The Wall Street Journal reports Democratic Represenatives John Yarmuth of Kentucky, John Adler of New Jersey, Debbie Halvorson of Illinois, and Mary Jo Kilroy of Ohio, and others have joined Arcuri in suggesting Rangel step down. Other New York politicians donated campaign donations from Rangel to charity.

The question becomes, will either powerful Democrat actually do so? It seems highly doubtful. Both Waters 71, and Rangel, 80, are mounting defenses to blunt criticism of any potential wrong-doing. Unless both are fully exonerated, the trials are likely to overshadow any messaging the Democrats may wish to communicate during the already dangerously anti-incumbent mid-term elections, in particular any legislative victories.

Waters' approach has been to argue that her efforts are not unlike anything she would do for any constituent, in particular minority-owned businesses within South Central L.A.. Rangel is arguing that not only is he not guilty, but if he were guilty as charged his 13 counts of wrongdoing are no different than activities by other legislators who haven't been called upon to account for their actions, the Associated Press reports.

However, Rangel has already lost his position as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and in the court of public opinion may look too ethically-challenged to be taken seriously. He and Waters may find their constituencies appreciate their long service to the Harlem and South Central communities, voters already angry with the Democratic majority over health care reform, bank bailouts, and the Obama administration will have further motivation to vote the majority.

Yet, the majority has accomplished a good deal of what they set out to do, in particular when it comes to health care reform. The ethics charges and trials against Maxine Waters and Charles Rangel will serve as a huge distraction unless they choose to step aside for the good of the majority. With pressure mounting within the ranks, it's not an entirely impossible outcome.

Sources

Richard Simon and Lisa Mascaro, "Maxine Waters faces ethics charges" Los Angeles Times

Eric Lipton, "House Ethics Inquiry on Waters Is Tied to Bank" New York Times

Larry Margasak, "Rangel using 3-way defense against ethics charges" Associated Press

Maggie Haberman, "Arcuri becomes first NY Dem to call for Rangel to go" Politico

Body Mullins and Eliza Gray, "More Calls For Rangel To Resign" The Wall Street Journal