House Ethics Committee Says Chuck Edwards Sexually Harassed Staffers, Recommends Censure

House Ethics Committee Says Chuck Edwards Sexually Harassed Staffers, Recommends Censure
A House Ethics Committee investigation found that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) violated House rules by creating a hostile work environment and repeatedly acting inappropriately toward two young female staffers, according to a report released Monday.
The bipartisan ethics panel recommended that Edwards, who is running for re-election in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, be censured for his conduct and said it would submit a resolution to the House for a vote.
"In his interview with the Committee, the Congressman repeatedly asserted that he knows well what constitutes 'sexual harassment,' and seemed to believe that by avoiding inappropriate physical touch, explicitly sexual comments, and occasionally telling the staffers that they were free to put up boundaries with him, he had immunized himself from such a charge. That is not the case," the 25-page report reads.
"Despite the absence of an explicit proposition, a reasonable person could interpret Representative Edwards' intimate and effusive attentions, where he prioritized the personal over the professional, as thinly veiled advances."
Lawyers for Edwards, 65, submitted a 15-page rebuttal claiming the committee "failed to demonstrate that either of the two staffers expressed discomfort to Representative Edwards regarding his conduct with them."
A spokesperson for Edwards' campaign told HuffPost that the committee's findings prove that "he neither engaged in sexual activity with nor explicitly propositioned any of his staff members."
"They concluded that the allegations in this matter do not implicate quid pro quo sexual harassment," the spokesperson said. "They concluded he did not violate federal sexual harassment law. However, the Committee staff has 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."
"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," the spokesperson continued.
An investigation by the committee found that Edwards singled out the two staffers, made frequent comments about their appearance, sent them messages in the middle of the night, texted them "deeply personal and seemingly romantic thoughts," and spent thousands of dollars on gifts for them, including designer bags, guns and personal vacations.
"Representative Edwards' contention that he had 'professional boss-subordinate relationships' and 'friendships' with both women is undermined by his intentionally deleting messages to these women that were particularly inappropriate," the report reads.
On one occasion, after helping one of the staffers move back to North Carolina, Edwards texted them: "I'm so so SO happy for you but I can't pretend this doesn't sting — deeply. Your absence leaves a space no one else can fill — professionally or personally. Even at my loss, I promise you will never find anyone that wishes for your happiness more than me. NEVER, ANYONE!"
Edwards also wrote poems to one of the staffers, "including one that he read at her going away party in the congressional office accompanied by a slideshow, during which he cried."
The committee announced in May it was investigating Edwards after Axios reported he acted inappropriately toward two female staffers in their 20s.
The investigation into Edwards came shortly after Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) both resigned from the House after facing allegations of sexual harassment involving former staffers.
The House remains on break until Aug. 31, meaning no action is expected against Edwards until the session resumes.