Washington, D.C. — The House voted 413-2 Tuesday to formally censure Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., after a bipartisan Ethics Committee investigation found he engaged in persistent inappropriate conduct toward two young female staff members.
The committee concluded there was substantial evidence that Edwards repeatedly crossed professional boundaries through comments about the women’s appearances and weight, late-night messages, highly personal notes, one-on-one dinners and expensive gifts. Those gifts reportedly included jewelry, designer purses, electronics, shoes, flowers and vacations.
Investigators did not find evidence that Edwards had sexual relations with either woman or explicitly propositioned them. However, the committee found his conduct created a hostile work environment and violated the spirit of House rules prohibiting sexual harassment and unwanted advances.
Before the vote, Edwards apologized to the former staffers but maintained that his conduct did not amount to sexual harassment. “Regret is not an admission of sexual harassment,” he told colleagues.
Only Edwards and Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., voted against the resolution. Censure is the most serious House punishment short of expulsion and required Edwards to stand in the chamber while Speaker Mike Johnson formally read the resolution.
Edwards previously announced he will not seek reelection.
Sources
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