Waters denounces delay in ethics trial

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Rep. Maxine Waters denounced the delay in her trial on House ethics charges Monday and said she wants "this issue resolved immediately."

"I have been denied basic due process,'' said Waters, D-Calif., standing in front of the empty Capitol Hill hearing room where the charges against her were to have been heard Monday.

Earlier this month, the trial was put off indefinitely when committee members said they had new evidence that required more investigation.

Waters told the Los Angeles Times the delay, after nearly a year and a half of investigation, "demonstrates in no uncertain terms the weakness of their case against me'' and the Ethics Committee's "lack of decency.''

"I want this issue resolved immediately,'' she said.

Waters is accused of stepping in improperly for OneUnited bank, where her husband served on the board and owned stock. Three months after she called then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to set up a September 2008 meeting with minority-owned banks, OneUnited got $12 million in bailout funds.

Waters, 72, has said her actions were part of her work in helping minority businesses. She repeated Monday that she had received no financial benefit.