The House Committee on Ethics recommended Rep. Chuck Edwards be censured after the panel found he violated the chamber’s Code of Official Conduct through a sustained pattern of inappropriate, unprofessional behavior toward two young female staffers.
According to the committee report, the North Carolina Republican has agreed to waive procedural steps to allow a floor vote.
The Washington Times reached out to Mr. Edwards for comment.
While the committee found no evidence of sexual activity or explicit propositions, it concluded that Mr. Edwards’ conduct would lead “a reasonable observer” to interpret it as romantic or sexual advances.
According to the report, both staffers (identified only as “Staffer 1” and “Staffer 2”) were hired by Mr. Edwards from his time as a senator in the North Carolina state legislature.
One was a college student when hired as his scheduler, and the other became a legislative staffer.
Mr. Edwards was aware his attention toward the women created rumors and an uncomfortable environment, but he continued with his behavior, despite being informed as early as May 2025 that the two women and other staffers were not comfortable with his actions.
The report listed the nature of the North Carolina lawmaker’s conduct toward the staffers, including remarks about their appearance and weight, such as calling them “pretty” and “breathtaking.”
He also bought expensive gifts for the staffers, including jewelry priced at over $1,000, designer purses, guns, vacations, electronics, and spa treatments — with Staffer 2 feeling “obligated” to wear items he gave her.
Personal outings with the staffers after they left his office for other jobs also became a problem, with one staffer saying she felt obligated to meet up with him for a trip to Las Vegas, fearing if she did not, he could hurt her career.
The report also noted that Mr. Edwards failed to produce, or apparently deleted, over 400 relevant text messages, and the committee found his explanations not fully credible.
Mr. Edwards’ lawyers issued a 15-page rebuttal in which they called the report a “vindication” based on its conclusion that the congressman didn’t proposition anyone or engage in any sexual conduct. It also called censure an “extraordinarily harsh and infrequent punishment” inappropriate for a case “not based on a direct violation of House rules addressing sexual misconduct.”
Paul Shumaker, a spokesperson for Mr. Edwards’ reelection campaign, blasted committee staff and accused it of creating arbitrary standards inconsistent with written laws and rules.
“Representative Edwards looks forward to having his name cleared and will work to ensure that the full light of day is brought on this process and that every member of Congress and the public can see the attempt to harm the Congressman who has brought no harm to others,” Mr. Shumaker said in a written statement.
The Committee on Ethics, which is composed of five Republicans and five Democrats and led by Chair Michael Guest of Mississippi and ranking member Mark DeSaulnier of California, first launched a probe into Mr. Edwards on May 14 over the allegations of sexual harassment and creating a “hostile work environment.”
The full House will have to vote on whether to censure the North Carolina lawmaker, which only requires a simple majority, but the House is out of session and unable to act until Aug. 31.
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