Rep. Waters Defends Herself

In an unconventional move for a politician believed to be in murky ethical seas, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) presented a 90-minute defense on Friday against charges by the House Ethics Committee. “What I’m doing now is outside of the box, beyond what’s normally done,” Waters said of her slideshow display—a decision that could, in the future, have consequences for how such issues are handled. No matter. Waters claims she’s innocent. “I have not violated any House rules,” she said. The ethics committee, meanwhile, disagrees: Waters and her chief of staff (who’s her grandson), the committee’s report argues, organized federal money for OneUnited bank—a company Waters’ husband, Sidney Williams, had invested in. Williams’ investment—which, it should be noted, he still has—would be worthless today had the government not intervened.