U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards remained silent early Tuesday in the wake of Monday’s report from the Committee on Ethics recommending an ethics censure for inappropriate behavior with female staff members.
The House of Representatives will take a vote on the measure.
The North Carolina Republican’s 11th Congressional District was viewed secure enough that state lawmakers didn’t redesign his district in October when they were changing the 1st Congressional District and 3rd Congressional District. Running against Democrat Jamie Ager on Nov. 3, Edwards trailed at the end of the second quarter federal filing period with $485,000 cash on hand to Ager’s more than $2.1 million.
Republicans’ 220-215 edge in the South Wing of the Capitol won in November 2024 is today 218-212 with one independent formerly Republican caucusing with his former party, and four vacancies. Should Edwards wish to stop his reelection campaign, he can be replaced on the ballot by submitting a request to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. That would have to happen before the first day military and overseas absentee ballots are put in the mail; that happens Sept. 4.
The report details interactions with two “young female staffers” that included gifts considered lavish, trips and recitation of a poem.
The report said in part, “While Representative Edwards denied that any of his conduct was intended as a sexual or romantic advance, his pattern of behavior would lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such, including providing the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, sending notes regarding his effusive affection, and inviting them to other activities as a way to spend time together.”
Other staffers for Edwards testified of an uncomfortable atmosphere. Edwards agreed he could tell.
The Ethics Committee includes fellow North Carolina Reps. Brad Knott and Deborah Ross, a Republican and Democrat, respectively; Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss.; Republican Reps. Andrew Garbarino of New York, Ashley Hinson of Iowa and Nathanial Moran of Texas; and Democratic Reps. Mark DeSaulnier of California, Glenn Ivey of Maryland, Sylvia Garcia of Texas and Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia.
A joint statement from Guest and DeSaulnier, the ranking member for Democrats, said in part, “At the completion of its investigation, the committee concluded there was substantial reason to believe Representative Edwards violated House Rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces. The Committee Rules provide for a process before the committee can recommend that the House of Representatives sanction a member. However, the member can waive any part of that process. Although he disagrees with the committee’s findings, Representative Edwards agreed to waive certain procedural steps, after reviewing a draft of the report several days prior, allowing the committee to recommend a House-level sanction in relation to his conduct.
“The committee therefore has recommended that the House of Representatives adopt the report, and with it, a censure of Representative Edwards for the conduct described therein. The committee intends to bring a privileged resolution for consideration and vote by the full House.”
Edwards, a parent and grandparent, owns McDonald’s franchises in Henderson, Transylvania and Haywood counties including the one where he began working as a 16-year-old while at West Henderson High. The second-term congressman previously had three terms in the state Senate.
Edwards’ district in the mountains, from Avery to McDowell and Polk counties north-south extending to the southwestern tip of the state, is in the heart of cleanup from Hurricane Helene’s remnants coming through in September 2024.
The district was carried by second-term Republican President Donald Trump three times, including by 10% in 2024. Trump is expected to be close on saying how about $385 million in the MAGA, Inc. super PAC will be distributed to candidates.
Edwards defeated Democrat Caleb Rudow 56.8%-43.2% in 2024; and Jasmine Beach-Ferrara 53.8%-44.5% in 2022, with Libertarian David Coatney (1.7%) on the ballot. The seat belonged to Republican Madison Cawthorn before Edwards, and he won in 2020 by 12.2%. Republican Mark Meadows prevailed by 20.5% in 2018, 28.2% in 2016, 25.8% in 2014 and 14.8% in 2012.
Former Tennessee quarterback and popular, three-time Swain County High state champion Heath Shuler from Bryson City was the last Democrat to win the seat in 2010.
Absentee ballots go into the mail Sept. 4 – or four weeks from this coming Friday. North Carolinians will choose a U.S. senator, all 14 members of the U.S. House, and all 170 members of the General Assembly.
