Edwards Withdraws After Ethics Panel Cites Staff Conduct

Rep. Chuck Edwards, a North Carolina Republican, announced early Wednesday that he would not seek a third term in the House, days after a bipartisan ethics committee recommended he face censure for what investigators described as persistent unprofessional and inappropriate behavior toward two female aides in their early twenties.

Edwards, 65, posted his decision on X at 3:30 a.m., citing prayer and reflection. He said he would finish his current term but offered no further explanation for withdrawing. The move follows a 25-page report released Monday by the House Ethics Committee that outlined a pattern of conduct the panel said violated the spirit of rules against sexual harassment and unwanted advances, even though it found no evidence of sexual activity or quid pro quo demands.

The committee detailed how Edwards gave the staffers lavish gifts, including jewelry, a gun, and a personalized puzzle that formed an invitation to a comedy show. He also arranged for a professional singer to perform Ed Sheeran’s “Hills of Aberfeldy” at one aide’s birthday party, telling her the performance came from “a special someone.” One staffer later told a friend the gesture left her believing Edwards did not see her simply as a “daughter figure” and that she felt “scared lowkey,” according to the report.

Investigators noted Edwards commented on the women’s appearances, paid for dinners and vacations, and covered expenses for a New York City trip that included tickets to “Hamilton.” In another instance, he arranged a day trip to Annapolis and texted one aide: “Over thinking… but I really want you to enjoy our time together nearly as much as I know [I] will.” The panel concluded that while Edwards denied any romantic or sexual intent and cooperated with the inquiry, his actions created an environment the committee viewed as inappropriate given the age and power differences.

Edwards has maintained that none of his gestures crossed into harassment. The report acknowledged the absence of physical contact or explicit propositions yet still faulted him for failing to adhere to the expected standards for members of Congress. A censure vote is now expected after the August recess.

The episode adds to a string of ethics cases involving House members this cycle, with critics pointing to repeated instances where senior lawmakers have been accused of misusing their positions with junior staff. Edwards, who represents a district in western North Carolina, had won reelection comfortably in prior cycles and was viewed as a safe incumbent before the ethics findings surfaced. His withdrawal leaves Republicans searching for a replacement candidate in a district that has leaned Republican in recent years.

Democratic opponents quickly seized on the report to argue that voters deserve accountability for conduct that the ethics panel deemed unprofessional. The committee’s findings, drawn from interviews and evidence gathered over several months, stopped short of recommending expulsion but made clear that the pattern of behavior warranted formal House disapproval.

Edwards’ statement expressed gratitude to constituents in western North Carolina without addressing the specific allegations. The ethics report remains a public record that will likely shape the race for his seat long after he completes his term.