Rep. Chuck Edwards withdraws from reelection campaign in North Carolina amid Ethics investigation
Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina is withdrawing from his reelection campaign, he said on Wednesday, two days after the House Ethics Committee said it found "substantial evidence to believe" that he "violated House rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplace."
"I will complete my current term," Edwards said in an early morning statement posted on social media. "Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America."
Edwards, who has represented the state's 11th District since 2023, had been slated to face Jamie Ager, the Democrat's nominee, in the general election on Nov. 3.
Axios first reported allegations in May about Edwards allegedly having behaved inappropriately toward his young female staff. ABC News has not independently confirmed or verified the allegations. Edwards had denied all the allegations.
The Ethics Committee investigated the claims before recommending on Monday that the full House censure Edwards. The committee signaled that it would force a floor vote on the issue when the full body returns after the August recess.
"Specifically, the Committee found that Representative Edwards engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers," the committee said in a report.
The report said Edwards provided young women who worked for him with "lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, sending notes regarding his effusive affection, and inviting them to other activities as a way to spend time together.”
The report said the committee found no evidence that Edwards "engaged in sexual activity with or explicitly propositioned any individual under his employ."
The congressman's reelection campaign, in a Monday statement, sought to downplay the censure recommendation, telling ABC News that the committee's findings "exonerate" Edwards and that the committee "has taken it upon themselves to write their own rules."
"The Committee findings completely exonerate Representative Edwards under the House rules governing sexual misconduct or harassment; they contradict the committee's conclusion," Edwards campaign spokesperson Paul Shumaker told ABC News in a statement. "They concluded that he neither engaged in sexual activity with nor explicitly propositioned any individual staff member. They concluded that the allegations in this matter do not implicate quid pro quo sexual harassment. They concluded he did not violate federal sexual harassment law. However, the Committee staff has taken it upon themselves to write their own rules based upon an interpretation that is inconsistent with the written rule of law or House rules."
The statement added, "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."
Edwards sits on the Appropriations and Budget committees.
