Rep. Chuck Edwards announced he is withdrawing from his re-election campaign in an early-morning post on X, two days after the House Ethics Committee recommended censure for what it described as unprofessional conduct toward two young female aides. The panel’s May inquiry—prompted by reports to Axios—cited gifts, comments on appearance, invitations to intimate dinners and vacations, and affectionate notes. The committee said a reasonable observer could interpret the behavior as sexual in nature but found no evidence of explicit propositions or sexual activity. Edwards denies sexual or romantic intent and his attorneys say the report clears him; he will complete his current term.
Rep. Chuck Edwards Withdraws Re-Election Bid After House Ethics Panel Recommends Censure
Embattled North Carolina Republican congressman Chuck Edwards withdrew from his reelection campaign on Wednesday (Getty Images)
Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards of North Carolina announced in a 3:30 a.m. post on X that he is withdrawing from his bid for re-election, two days after the House Ethics Committee recommended he be censured for conduct toward two young female aides.
"After much prayer and reflection, I've decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign," Edwards wrote, adding that he will complete his current term and that representing Western North Carolina has been "the honor of my life."
Ethics Inquiry and Findings
The Ethics Committee opened an investigation in May into "allegations that Representative Chuck Edwards may have created or fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment in violation of the Code of Official Conduct," Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Guest said when the probe began.
Edwards, who is in his second term, denied that his conduct was intended as a sexual or romantic advance (Getty Images)
The recommendation to censure followed reports from three sources to Axios who said they witnessed conduct by Edwards toward two female staffers in their 20s that they considered inappropriate and that crossed professional boundaries. The committee detailed examples it considered improper, including recurrent lavish gifts, comments about appearance and dress, invitations to intimate dinners and vacations, and written notes expressing affection.
Responses and Context
The committee said the behavior would "lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such," meaning sexual in nature, but it also found no evidence that Edwards explicitly propositioned any employee or engaged in sexual activity with staffers.
Edwards has denied that his actions were intended as a sexual or romantic advance. In response to the committee report, his attorneys argued the findings "exonerate" him and called the recommended censure an "extraordinarily harsh and infrequent punishment," asserting the recommendation relied on broad standards rather than a direct violation of House rules specifically addressing sexual misconduct.
Edwards, 65, said he will finish his current term representing Western North Carolina. The decision to withdraw from his re-election campaign and the Ethics Committee's recommendation mark a significant development in the lawmaker's tenure.
Help us improve.
