Edwards Withdraws After Ethics Panel Cites Staff Conduct

Rep. Chuck Edwards announced early Wednesday that he would not seek a third term in Congress. The North Carolina Republican cited prayer and reflection in a statement posted on X at 3:30 a.m. He said he would finish his current term and described serving Western North Carolina as the honor of his life.

The decision followed a House Ethics Committee report released Monday that recommended censure for unprofessional conduct toward two female staff members. The bipartisan panel examined allegations involving gifts, comments on appearance and invitations to dinners and trips. Both staffers were in their early twenties at the time.

The 25-page report detailed specific actions. Edwards arranged for a professional singer to perform Ed Sheeran's "Hills of Aberfeldy" at one staffer's birthday party and described the performance as coming from a special someone. He paid for a New York City trip that included tickets to Hamilton. Other items included jewelry, a gun and a personalized puzzle that contained an invitation to a comedy show. The committee noted that one staffer told a friend the events left her feeling scared.

Edwards cooperated with the investigation and denied that any conduct was meant to be sexual or romantic. The panel found no evidence of sexual activity, propositions or quid pro quo arrangements. It concluded that the conduct violated the spirit of rules against sexual harassment and unwanted advances but did not breach the letter of federal law on those points. The committee described a pattern of behavior that went beyond normal professional boundaries.

Edwards, 65 and married, faces a possible censure vote after the August recess. Censure represents formal disapproval by the full House but carries no further penalties such as expulsion. The representative had won his primary in May 2022 and had planned to run again before the ethics findings surfaced.

The episode illustrates how personal conduct can end a political career even when criminal thresholds are not met. Edwards chose to step aside rather than contest the report or the censure recommendation. His statement avoided detailed rebuttal and focused on gratitude toward constituents.

The case adds to a record of congressional ethics matters that often center on workplace interactions rather than policy disputes. Primary voters in Edwards's district will now select a new Republican nominee without the incumbent on the ballot.