The House Ethics Committee is investigating Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), who has come under scrutiny because of her husband's ties to a bank that received federal bailout funds. The panel's chairwoman and ranking member announced the committee was extending by 45 days a determination on whether it would conduct a more thorough review of Waters' conduct, but they declined to say what was being investigated. Waters, one of Los Angeles' most enduring liberal politicians, also declined to comment. (Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Elected officials are held to a higher legal authority---what is acceptable behavior for citizens might be a crime for elected legislators under oath of office. It appears Cong Waters may have colluded to deceive constituents and could have facilitated govt fraud.
FBI TIP PAGE http://tips.fbi.gov/ (you may remain anonymous)
The FBI should interrogate Cong Waters to determine if the bank received anything else of value ---such as political cover, and whether collusion to misuse Congessional influence was involved.
POSSIBLE CHARGES FACED BY CONG WATERS Official acts prohibited, misuse of Congressional funds, abuse of public office, violating oath of office, misuse of government position, abuse of government power; conflict of interest; influence buying; conspiracy to deceive; misuse of elective office, collusion, conspiracy to collude.
Waters' official campaign finance records filed with the FEC, and state election commission, should be scrutinized for possible violations. Determine if names of Waters' contributors are legit and whether Waters illegally used campaign funds, and/or whether Waters received campaign contributions to influence Congressional votes.
Waters may have colluded to give something of value, a govt gratuity, a job, etc, in exchange for getting govt monies to her husband.
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CONG WATERS' HUSBAND HAS TIES TO BANK THAT RECEIVED FEDERAL BAILOUT FUNDS. Authorities need to determine whether Mr Waters colluded to engage in money-laundering activities which may have involved (1) violating state and federal RICO statutes; (2) securities fraud, (3) mail fraud (4) electronic fraud, (5) corporate theft (6) failing to report wrongdoing (7) breach of fiduciary duty (8) running a non-profit as an illegal racketeering enterprise, (9) accounting fraud, (10) using and creating slush funds.
ACTION NEEDED An external audit might uncover millions missing through government fraud.
Investigators might find that charges could be filed, subsequent to an investigation of financial documents, together with testimony of cooperating witnesses who may have participated in years-long embezzlement schemes. Prosecutors might use RICO as a lever to pry open the massive cover-up of government corruption that is available through “discovery” within the named entities. The RICO device might refresh the memories of recalcitrant wrongdoers, and might expose primary evidence.
L/E might prosecute individuals along with their co-conspirators, and subsets of them, on RICO charges, on grounds that they conspired to keep taxpayers from learning of the scope and dimension of government fraud, and schemes designed to cheat taxpayers.
One government fraud modus operandi might involve conspiracies with entry-level personnel, perhaps handymen, janitors, maintenance personnel, child care employees, or drivers, that might have been bribed by unusually high salaries, bonuses, or other emoluments, in exchange for secretly cashing government checks and then depositing them in the hidden personal bank accounts of insiders.
Another scheme might work like this: a legitimate vendor’s account number would be used on checks payable to individuals, while a co-conspirator would sign all checks without question. After the check was issued, the name of the payee would be electronically changed back in computer records to the legitimate vendor to conceal fraudulent payments in connection with government fraud to siphon off public monies.
Phony official financial reports may have hidden theft; accountants and bookkeepers may have been employed that would keep thievery secret.
Taxpayers demand to know if govt officials received money from banks and other financial institutions in the form of loans, bonuses, equity positions in business entities doing business with agencies, due to the fact that govt officials colluded with officials who held power over tax assets, and were in positions to decide where tax assets might be allocated.
Did Mr Waters file false bank loan applications to take equity positions in companies doing business with his bank, then conspire to payoff the bank loans by rigging and inflating bids for government contracts, then paid off bank loans when the tax monies rolled in?
In raids of the suspects' homes and offices, law enforcement might find evidence of the financial trail that linked government fraud and monies to personal payments for cars, trips, luxury items.
Investigations may find that others signed off on paperwork and financial forms prepared or verified as true by others (Mr Waters?).
What a crock. Elected officials get away scott free with behavior the average citizen would be punished severely for. Instead of being held to a higher standard, as they should be for violating the public trust, they use their position to shield them from the law.
That’s a whole lot of investigating to do. Isn’t this a case of her using her influence to save a bank that her husband worked for and they held an equity position in? She used her seat for financial gain (yes,they all do just not this directly)and that’s the crime. If they find more that will just be gravy on the meat.
So will Waters have to stand in the well, get the same "naughty, naughty" lecture that Rangel will? 'Cause really, what big a deal is it, abuse of power, abuse of public office, violating the oath anyway? [/s]