Wikimedia CommonsU.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles
At least two Pennsylvania politicians have already returned campaign contributions made by a committee tied to California Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, who will face an ethics trial this fall over questions that she used her power to help a bank with ties to her husband.
The politicians, Reps. Kathy Dahlkemper and Patrick Murphy, both Democrats, have faced pressure from Republicans in Pennsylvania to return contributions from both Waters and embattled New York Congressman Charlie Rangel, who also faces ethics charges in the House.
Dahlkemper received $2,000 from Waters and Murphy received $1,000. The National Republican Congressional Committee reportedly plans to attack candidates who received money from Waters and Rangel using robo-calls.
Though it has been clear for several weeks that Waters would face ethics charges, a detailed report outlining those charges was released Monday.
Among other things, the report charges that Waters helped steer $12 million in federal bailout funds to a bank where her husband recently sat on the board. The assistance was facilitated in part by Waters' chief of staff, Mikael Moore, who is also her grandson.
The Waters committee that made contributions to the Pennsylvania lawmakers, called People Helping People, has given money to dozens of other politicians over the years, including California Reps. Joe Baca, Lois Capps and Dennis Cardoza.

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