The House Ethics Committee has opened a formal inquiry into Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) over allegations that he created a hostile workplace and sexually harassed two young staffers. Edwards, in his second term, said he will cooperate and called for the facts to prevail. The inquiry follows an Axios report citing three witnesses; the committee stressed that announcing an inquiry does not imply a rules violation and will make no further public comment.
House Ethics Committee Opens Inquiry Into Rep. Chuck Edwards Over Harassment Claims
FILE - Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C, listens to testimony as the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight holds a field hearing in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)(AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee announced Thursday it has opened a formal inquiry into Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina over allegations that he created a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment.
Edwards, who is serving his second term in the House, said he welcomes the probe and will cooperate fully with investigators.
“I am confident the investigation will expose the facts, not politically motivated fiction,” Edwards said.
The inquiry follows an Axios report that cited three sources who said they observed conduct by Edwards toward two female staffers in their 20s that those witnesses described as inappropriate and crossing professional boundaries. Axios said the sources were granted anonymity to protect them from potential retaliation.
The House Ethics Committee said it would make no further public comment and emphasized that announcing an inquiry does not itself mean any rules were violated. The committee’s disclosure is a procedural step that allows investigators to examine the allegations and gather evidence.
The review comes amid heightened scrutiny of lawmakers’ behavior toward staff, following the recent resignations of Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, both of whom stepped down after facing calls for their expulsion. The Ethics Committee’s investigation will determine whether House rules were violated and whether disciplinary action is warranted.
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