Six Recuse Themselves From Maxine Waters Case
The House Ethics Committee announced on Friday that half a dozen lawmakers have voluntarily withdrawn themselves from an investigation into Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).
The committee’s Chairman, Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.), and ranking member, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) wrote to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to notify him of the action, which is considered rare.
Bonner and Sanchez said that six members were recusing themselves to avoid an “appearance of unfairness” in the matter. They added that the move was strictly precautionary, as the outside counselor to the committee, Billy Martin, “has not discovered any evidence to indicate actual bias or partiality by any current Member or staff of the Committee.”
Waters is under investigation for allegedly helping direct TARP funds to a bank that her husband owned a significant amount of stock in.
Bonner and Sanchez are two of the lawmakers who requested recusal. The other four are Rep. Michael T. McCaul (R-Texas), Rep. Michael Conaway (R-Texas), Rep. Charles Dent (R-Pa.) and Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.).
Bonner and Sanchez said that they will name replacements to continue the investigation in the near future.
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