Waters wants hearing before midterms

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) sent a letter Wednesday to the House ethics committee asking for a hearing date before the November elections.

Waters wrote Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and ranking member Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) to ask the panel to schedule an adjudicatory hearing and to release to the public all documents related to her case, waiving her right to keep the Statement of Alleged Violation private.

"I am deeply concerned by the Committee’s failure to announce a date for a public hearing in its most recent press release," Waters wrote. "I feel strongly that further delay in the scheduling of the hearing violates the fundamental principles of due process, denies my constituents the opportunity to evaluate this case, and harms my ability to defend my integrity."

The House ethics committee released a 23-page report detailing allegations against Waters this week. The report was written by the independent Office of Congressional Ethics.

The document contained no specific charges but said that there is "substantial reason to believe" Waters violated House rules by improperly using her position to help others benefit financially and violated guidelines against conflict of interest.

Waters is accused of helping facilitate $12 million in Troubled Asset Relief Program funds for OneUnited Bank, of which her husband was a director and stockholder. OneUnited Bank executives had also contributed to Waters's campaigns.

The full text of Waters's letter follows:

Dear Chairwoman Lofgren and Ranking Member Bonner:

I am writing to ask that the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct schedule my adjudicatory hearing prior to the November election. I am deeply concerned by the Committee’s failure to announce a date for a public hearing in its most recent press release. I feel strongly that further delay in the scheduling of the hearing violates the fundamental principles of due process, denies my constituents the opportunity to evaluate this case, and harms my ability to defend my integrity.

Also, I would like to waive my procedural right and grant permission for the Committee to release the Statement of Alleged Violation (SAV) and all accompanying documents pursuant to Clause 26 (b) of the Committee’s rules. In combination with the scheduling of the hearing, the release of the SAV will enable this process to take place in a timely manner and provide the transparency that the American public deserves.

I am confident that once the Subcommittee report is released and I am able to present my case, my constituents and all Americans will understand that I have not violated any House rules.