Major Controversies Surrounding Maxine Waters: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Maxine Waters.

Maxine Waters is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for California's 43rd congressional district since 1991. Her district, previously numbered as the 29th and 35th, encompasses much of southern Los Angeles and parts of Gardena, Inglewood, and Torrance. She is known for her outspoken nature and progressive political views, advocating for social justice and economic equality.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

July 1992: Waters Calls Bush a Racist

In July 1992, Maxine Waters called President George H. W. Bush "a racist" who "polarized the races in this country". She had previously suggested Bush used race to advance his policies.

1992: Waters' response to Rodney King verdict and LA riots

In 1992, following the Rodney King verdict, south-central Los Angeles erupted in riots. Maxine Waters gained national attention for leading a chant of "No justice, no peace" at a rally. She also helped deliver relief supplies and demanded vital services be resumed. Waters described the riots as a rebellion and a reaction to injustice.

July 29, 1994: Suspended from House for Unruly Behavior

On July 29, 1994, Maxine Waters was suspended from the House for the rest of the day due to unruly and turbulent behavior during a speech by Representative Peter King. Her actions were prompted by King's questioning of Maggie Williams the previous day during a House Banking Committee hearing on the Whitewater controversy.

1996: Called for Investigation into CIA Complicity

In 1996, following a San Jose Mercury News article, Maxine Waters called for an investigation into the alleged complicity of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the Los Angeles crack epidemic of the 1980s.

1998: Waters Writes Letter to Castro Praising Policy Proposals

In 1998, Maxine Waters wrote Fidel Castro a letter, praising some of his policy proposals and thanking him for helping those who needed to "flee political persecution". She also criticized previous U.S. efforts to overthrow the Castro regime and called for an end to the U.S. trade embargo.

1998: Waters Asks Castro Not to Extradite Assata Shakur

In 1998, Maxine Waters wrote an open letter to Fidel Castro, requesting that he not extradite convicted terrorist Assata Shakur from Cuba. Waters argued that the Black community viewed Shakur's conviction as false.

1999: Waters Calls on Clinton to Return Elián González to Cuba

In 1999, Maxine Waters called on President Bill Clinton to return six-year-old Elián González to his father in Cuba. González had survived a boat journey from Cuba, during which his mother drowned, and had been taken in by U.S. relatives.

2000: Objected to Florida's Electoral Votes

In 2000, Maxine Waters and other House members objected to Florida's electoral votes, which George W. Bush narrowly won; however, the objection was dismissed by Vice President Al Gore.

2002: Waters Voted Against Iraq War Resolution

In 2002, Maxine Waters voted against the Iraq War Resolution, which funded and approved potential military action against Saddam Hussein's regime.

2004: Los Angeles Times Report on Relatives' Business

In 2004, Chuck Neubauer and Ted Rohrlich of the Los Angeles Times reported that Maxine Waters's relatives had earned over $1 million in the preceding eight years through business dealings with entities she had assisted.

2004: Waters Opposes Coup in Haiti and Meets with Aristide

In 2004, Maxine Waters opposed the coup d'état in Haiti and criticized U.S. involvement. After the coup, she joined a delegation to meet with Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and bring him to Jamaica.

2004: Voted Not to Count Ohio's Electoral Votes

In 2004, Maxine Waters was one of 31 House Democrats who voted not to count Ohio's electoral votes in the presidential election, which President George W. Bush won.

2005: Named as Corrupt Member of Congress

In 2005, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named Maxine Waters to its list of corrupt members of Congress.

2005: Secret meeting with Louis Farrakhan

In 2005, Maxine Waters secretly met with Louis Farrakhan.

2006: Named as Corrupt Member of Congress

In 2006, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named Maxine Waters to its list of corrupt members of Congress.

2006: Involved in Debate over King Drew Medical Center

In 2006, Maxine Waters was involved in the debate over King Drew Medical Center, criticizing media coverage and requesting the FCC to deny a waiver for KTLA-TV's license renewal, which was owned by the Los Angeles Times.

2007: Waters criticizes Bush's handling of Iraq War

In 2007, Maxine Waters criticized President George W. Bush for requesting funds for the "occupation" in Iraq, arguing it was draining resources that could be used for universal health care or fully funding his "No Child Left Behind" education bill. She also suggested that economic need drove some U.S. service personnel to serve in Iraq.

September 2008: Arranged Meetings for OneUnited Bank

In September 2008, Maxine Waters arranged meetings between U.S. Treasury Department officials and OneUnited Bank to allow the bank to plead for federal assistance.

June 2009: Named Porker of the Month

In June 2009, Citizens Against Government Waste named Maxine Waters the Porker of the Month due to her intention to obtain an earmark for the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center.

2009: Confrontation over Earmark

In 2009, Maxine Waters had a confrontation with Representative Dave Obey over an earmark in the United States House Committee on Appropriations for a public school employment training center in Los Angeles named after her.

2010: Charged with Ethics Violations

In 2010, the House Ethics Committee charged Maxine Waters with ethics violations related to her efforts to help OneUnited Bank receive federal aid.

August 2011: Waters criticizes Obama's support for the Black community

In August 2011, Maxine Waters criticized President Barack Obama for insufficient support of the Black community, citing the high African American unemployment rate. She mentioned that some African American members of Congress were hesitant to publicly pressure Obama.

August 20, 2011: Waters' Comments on the Tea Party

On August 20, 2011, at a town hall meeting, Maxine Waters criticized the Tea Party movement, saying, "the 'tea party' can go straight to Hell ... and I intend to help them get there."

October 2011: Public Dispute with Obama

In October 2011, Maxine Waters had a public dispute with President Obama. Waters argued that Obama focused more on swing voters in Iowa than on Black voters. In response, Obama urged Waters to "stop complaining" and work with him.

2011: Named as Corrupt Member of Congress

In 2011, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named Maxine Waters to its list of corrupt members of Congress.

2011: Voted Against National Defense Authorization Act

In 2011, Maxine Waters voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 due to a controversial provision allowing indefinite detention without trial.

2016: Objected to Wyoming's Electoral Votes

In 2016, Maxine Waters objected to Wyoming's electoral votes after the presidential election, but the objection was dismissed by Vice President Joe Biden.

2016: Accusations of Russian collusion in 2016 presidential election

In 2016, allegations of Russian collusion during the presidential election surfaced, which later contributed to Maxine Waters' call for impeachment of Donald Trump.

February 2017: Waters on Trump's possible impeachment

In February 2017, Maxine Waters stated that Donald Trump was "leading himself" to possible impeachment due to conflicts of interest and creating "chaos and division".

August 12, 2017: Waters Links Trump to Charlottesville Violence

On August 12, 2017, Maxine Waters linked Donald Trump to the violence at a white nationalist protest rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, stating that the White House "is now the White Supremacists' House."

September 2017: Waters' Eulogy at Dick Gregory's Funeral

In September 2017, during a eulogy at Dick Gregory's funeral, Maxine Waters stated she was "cleaning out the White House" and that Donald Trump would regret not being impeached.

October 2017: Waters Says Congress Has Enough Evidence for Impeachment

In October 2017, Maxine Waters said that the U.S. Congress had enough evidence to "be moving on impeachment" against Donald Trump, citing Russian collusion allegations and obstruction of justice.

2017: Waters' Comments on Trump and His Advisors

In 2017, Maxine Waters described Donald Trump as "a bully, an egotistical maniac, a liar" and "the most deplorable person I've ever met." She also referred to Trump's advisors with ties to Russia as "a bunch of scumbags" during an appearance on MSNBC's All In with Chris Hayes.

April 24, 2018: Waters Urges Trump to Resign

On April 24, 2018, at the Time 100 Gala, Maxine Waters urged Donald Trump to resign from office to avoid impeachment.

June 23, 2018: Waters Urges Harassment of Trump Officials

On June 23, 2018, Maxine Waters urged attendees at a rally in Los Angeles to harass Trump administration officials after Sarah Huckabee Sanders was denied service at a restaurant.

2018: Waters' Response to Trump's State of the Union

In 2018, after Donald Trump's State of the Union address, Maxine Waters released a video criticizing what she saw as his racist viewpoint and actions, calling him "a dangerous, unprincipled, divisive, and shameful racist." Trump responded by calling her a "low-IQ individual."

2018: Called on to Resign Due to Farrakhan Connection

In early 2018, Maxine Waters was among the members of Congress the Republican Jewish Coalition called on to resign due to her connections with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who had drawn criticism for antisemitic remarks.

April 17, 2021: Waters Comments on Daunte Wright Protests and Chauvin Trial

On April 17, 2021, Maxine Waters' comments during protests over the killing of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, drew controversy. She expressed hope for a "guilty, guilty, guilty" verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial and suggested protesters should "stay on the street" and "get more active" if the verdict was not as desired.

April 19, 2021: Judge Criticizes Waters' Comments in Chauvin Trial

On April 19, 2021, the judge in Derek Chauvin's trial criticized Maxine Waters' comments as "abhorrent" and "disrespectful to the rule of law." The judge denied the defense's request for a mistrial but suggested Waters' comments could be grounds for appeal.