The House Ethics Committee probe of Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., could result in legal bills of up to $1.3 million.
According to a report by TheHill.com, the committee has voted to extend the contract of Billy Martin, the outside counsel hired to investigate the Waters case, through the end of the year. Martin's fees have already cost more than $800,000 since he was hired last July, and the contract extension could provide him with an additional $500,000 in legal fees.
Martin is also charged with investigating the ethics panel itself on charges that it acted in a prejudicial manner against Waters. In June, Martin's investigation cleared the panel of alleged misconduct.
If Martin continues his work through the end of the year, the final tally for taxpayers would be at least $1.3 million.
Waters has been under investigation on whether she violated House rules in helping to secure federal aid for Boston-based OneUnited Bank, in which Waters' husband owns stock. She has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
