On Monday, the U.S. House Committee on Ethics recommended that North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards be censured for sexual harassment.
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In its report, the committee said that Edwards, a Republican from Western North Carolina, “may have created or fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment in violation of House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct.”
The report found that he “engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.” Edwards denies any wrongdoing.
Here is the full report, with two addendums with exhibits and Edwards’ response.
The committee included an appendix of messages, photos and correspondence considered exhibits and evidence considered by the lawmakers.
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Rep. Chuck Edwards issued a response to the report in which he denies that he violated federal sexual harassment law. He calls the censure recommendation “an extraordinarily harsh and infrequent punishment” that “is based solely on vague standards requiring credible behavior and adherence to the spirit of the Rules of the House.”
He criticized the investigation itself, saying the committee was “acting on unverified rumors of sexual misconduct reported in the media, in the absence of a complaint from any affected individual.”
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Read his response here.
This story was originally published August 3, 2026 at 3:17 PM.