The House Ethics Committee has reported substantial evidence of sexual harassment by Representative Chuck Edwards, a Republican from North Carolina. The committee's findings, released on August 3, 2026, indicate that Edwards provided lavish gifts, invited two female staffers to private dinners and vacations, and sent them personal letters. The committee has recommended that Edwards be censured, marking the first such recommendation since 2010.
Edwards, who has denied the allegations, has a spokesperson claiming that the findings contradict the committee's conclusions. The report details interviews with 16 witnesses and over 1,500 pages of evidence regarding Edwards' interactions with the staffers, who were 19 and in their early 20s when they began working for him. The report states that both women felt uncomfortable with Edwards' behavior, which included giving them gifts such as jewelry, flowers, and tickets to events, and performing personal chores for one of them.
The allegations against Edwards are part of a broader pattern of sexual misconduct claims involving members of Congress. Earlier this year, other representatives faced similar allegations, leading to their removal from office.