The US ethics committee on Monday recommended that Chuck Edwards, a Republican congressman from North Carolina, face censure after determining he “fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment” by giving gifts and lavishing attention on two young female staffers. The bipartisan panel said there “was substantial reason to believe” Edwards broke House rules, and the report was approved by Democratic and Republican committee members.
The investigation began earlier this year after the committee received complaints about Edwards’s conduct. The panel found no evidence that Edwards engaged in sexual activity with the staffers or suggested it, but concluded his behavior likely violated House code provisions that prohibit sexual harassment and unwanted advances. The congressman “acknowledged at least some of the behavior at issue could be viewed as inappropriate”, but “has not acknowledged or taken responsibility for the harm he caused”, the committee wrote.
Why did the committee recommend censure?
The committee said Edwards singled out two unidentified aides for special treatment that made them uncomfortable and harmed relations with other employees. It described a pattern of behavior that included frequent attention, private messages and gifts. The panel said:
“A member of Congress should not single out a staffer and isolate them from other staff, make frequent comments regarding that person’s appearance and weight, send messages in the middle of the night, text staff deeply personal and seemingly romantic thoughts, intrude on personal occasions without invitation, pay for personal vacations, and spend thousands of dollars on gifts for staffers,”
According to the report, Edwards’s actions were serious enough to support a finding that he violated House rules, even without evidence of sexual activity. The committee said the harm extended beyond the two women involved and affected the workplace generally.
How has Edwards’s campaign responded?
Edwards’s re-election campaign criticized the report, arguing its findings “completely exonerate” the congressman while saying ethics committee staff “have 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 campaign said:
“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,”
If the House agrees to censure Edwards, he would have to stand in the well of the chamber while the text of a resolution rebuking him is read aloud. That step would amount to a formal public reprimand by the House.
How does this affect his re-election race?
Edwards was already viewed as vulnerable to losing re-election in his western North Carolina district in the November midterm elections. Last week, election forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated his race a “toss-up”, a sign of improving Democratic chances.
Following the report’s release, his Democratic opponent, Jamie Ager, said:
“My heart goes out to the young women who took these roles to serve our community,”
“We deserve leaders with the moral character western North Carolina can be proud of.”
Elected in 2022 after ousting the scandal-plagued in the Republican primary, Edwards is a former state senator. According to the report, he left most of the hiring for his new office up to his chief of staff, but insisted on bringing “three young women” into his operation. That group included a woman who was still in college and identified by the committee as “Staffer 1” and a second in her early 20s, identified as “Staffer 2”.
What conduct did the committee describe?
The committee found that “Both young women were subject to increasingly unusual attention from the congressman while they worked for him, creating an environment where both they and their coworkers felt uncomfortable.” The report said Edwards brought Staffer 1 to a White House event without telling the rest of his staff, bought her flowers and texted her in advance that he was “so excited about tonight” and wanted it to be “perfect”.
After that event, the staffer said Edwards tried to “pressure” her into continuing the night together. Edwards told the committee he did not recall that interaction. The report also says he invited both staffers to private dinners, and at one point told Staffer 2 to ensure the event was not put on his calendar by his office scheduler.
The committee found that Edwards would send both women “personal texts” later in the evening about planning events together or expressing “personal sentiments”. It also said he planned lengthy and elaborate trips with them, either together or separately. At one point, he suggested to Staffer 2 that they “go to Annapolis for lunch, meditate by its water, stroll about town, find a day spa, see a movie, or wipe out the casino”.
Edwards also sent a text to the staffer saying:
“I’m probably over thinking being impulsive but I really want you to enjoy our time together nearly as much as [I] know [I] will,”
The committee released that message in its report. It said his conduct made the two staffers uncomfortable and contributed to a tense office atmosphere.
How did staff react inside the office?
When a senior employee in Edwards’s office spoke to him on the women’s behalf, that staffer told the committee the congressman “got very angry” and said she “didn’t understand the unique relationship” he had with the two women. Both staffers later resigned because of his behavior, though they gave Edwards other reasons when they left.
The committee found the conduct affected morale across the office. One senior aide told investigators Edwards “lashes out at everyone on the team except” the two women. The congressman denied yelling at his staff. Another staffer said they had told Edwards that an “unfair standard existed” in his office, which he said was caused by employees being “jealous”.
The report said the environment created by Edwards’s behavior was uncomfortable for both the women and their colleagues, and it concluded that his actions had broader consequences for office management and staff relations.
What happened after Staffer 2 left?
Even after she left his employment, Staffer 2 agreed to a trip to Las Vegas with Edwards. She said she felt pressured to do so in part because he had influence over her being hired for another job in civil service. Edwards paid for her flights, accommodation at the Bellagio hotel and a show at the Sphere.
After receiving a bouquet of flowers upon arrival, Staffer 2 texted Edwards:
“I’m almost ready and just got the flowers – they’re very pretty. Thank you! I did want to flag that the message made me uncomfortable. Just want to make sure this trip isn’t meant to be anything it’s not?”
Edwards replied:
“Understood, and agree. I’m sorry it made you uncomfortable. Nothing was meant by it, other than what was intended to be a cute play on the name of the arrangement,”
The committee included that exchange as part of its account of how Edwards interacted with the staffers and why it believed the conduct created discomfort and crossed professional boundaries.
Key Facts
- The US ethics committee on Monday recommended censure for Republican Chuck Edwards.
- The bipartisan panel said he “fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment”.
- The investigation found no evidence of sexual activity or that Edwards suggested it.
- Sabato’s Crystal Ball last week rated his western North Carolina race a “toss-up”.
- Edwards was elected in 2022 after ousting the scandal-plagued in the Republican primary.
