CONGRESSWOMAN UNDER EXAMINATION: Maxine Waters joins growing list of black Congress members being investigated.

     The alleged Waters transgression relates to aid she appears to have given to Black-owned OneUnited Bank of Massachusetts. After Waters helped arrange a meeting between bank officials and the House Banking Committee, the bank received $12 million in federal bailout funds.

     The problem flows from the fact that Waters’ husband Sidney Williams owned stock in the bank and sat on its board until early 2008. Last week we reported on the investigation into the financial activities of another Black member of Congress from California, Laura Richardson. Richardson had lost her home to foreclosure but an apparent sweetheart deal from a major lender enabled her to get it back.

     The leading Black Congress member under investigation is New York ’s Charles Rangel, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He is accused of failing to report income and assets on a required financial disclosure form. Meanwhile, at least four other Black members of Congress are also under investigation for alleged financial wrongdoings.

     Interesting, all 7 members of Congress currently under active investigation by the ethics panel are African American. None of the members have claimed racism but National Action Network President Rev. Al Sharpton says it “must be” racial. (source: Taylor Media Services)