News

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition Lends Support to Congresswoman Maxine Waters

Please see below a statement from Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, regarding California Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ denial of breaking House ethics rules.

"Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) presented a credible and assertive defense against the allegations of unethically steering government money to a bank in which her husband held 4000 shares, made by the House Ethics Committee. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and I stand firmly with her.

She has served her constituents with the highest level of integrity and honesty. She is an advocate who has fearlessly taken on issues and causes not always popular, but always right. It is unfortunate that the House Ethics Committee is unfairly targeting her – a hearing on the charges should take place as quickly as possible so Congresswoman Waters can have her day in court. The courtroom, not the newsroom, is the proper place to present the evidence and facts surrounding the issue.

Rep. Maxine Waters’ intervention with the Treasury Department on behalf of minority-owned banks was necessary, and appropriate. While the big banks received $750 billion in federal bailout funds, corresponding support for minority banks was not forthcoming. She argued, when Secretary Paulson’s office did not respond to the National Bank Association's request for a meeting,

"The question at this point should not be why I called Secretary Paulson, but why I had to," she said. "The question at this point should be why a trade association representing over 100 minority banks could not get a meeting at the height of the crisis."

We stand with Rep. Waters in her determination to confront the alleged violations of House rules, and her decision to “not cut a deal.”

We fully support Rep. Waters’ demand for a speedy trial, and call on the ethics committee to immediately set a date for the hearing. For a matter that has been “investigated” for over a year, not to quickly set a hearing date is unacceptable and violates of Rep. Waters’ right to due process.”

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a progressive organization devoted to protecting, defending and expanding civil rights to improve economic and educational opportunity. The organization is headquartered at 930 E. 50th St. in Chicago. To learn more, please visit http://www.rainbowpush.org or call (773) 373-3366. To arrange an interview with Rev. Jackson, please call the numbers listed above.

-30-

---