Judicial Watch files House Ethics Complaint against Rep. Waters after 'stay on street' comment

The conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch on Tuesday filed a House Ethics Complaint against Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters over her comments about the George Floyd trial, including the suggestion that protestors should “stay on the streets” if they aren’t satisfied with the verdict for defendant and ex-police officer Derek Chauvin.

The complaint was filed with the House Office of Congressional Ethics and argues Waters, a California lawmaker, violated chamber ethics rules by encouraging violence and attempting to intimidate the jury in the Chauvin trial.

"We've got to stay on the street and we've got to get more active, we've got to get more confrontational," Waters told protesters after the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, just miles from Minneapolis where Floyd died in police custody in May 2020. "We've got to make sure that they know that we mean business."

Judicial Watch argues Waters' statements seem to be in violation of House ethics rules that require members to conduct themselves "at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House."

"Ms. Waters took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, which includes the rights accorded to Officer Chauvin to a fair and impartial trial by a jury of his peers and to due process," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton wrote in the complaint.

The group cited House Rule 23, Clause 1, of the Code of Official Conduct of the Rules of the House of Representatives that states: "A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House shall conduct himself at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House."

In June 2018, Judicial Watch filed a House ethics complaint against Waters for inciting violence and assaults on former-President Trump’s Cabinet.

"Rep. Maxine Waters not only incited violence, she is also attempting to subvert the legal system by intimidating the jury in the trial of Derek Chauvin," stated Fitton. "Maxine Waters is a repeat offender and it is urgent that the House Ethics Committee quickly acts to hold her accountable."