Representative Chuck Edwards apologized to his wife and family on the House floor Tuesday as lawmakers prepared to vote on a resolution censuring the North Carolina Republican over his conduct toward two former female staffers. Edwards expressed regret for the embarrassment and public scrutiny his actions had caused his wife, Teresa, while also apologizing directly to the two women involved. The emotional remarks came shortly before the House overwhelmingly voted 413-2 to censure Edwards.
The House Ethics Committee had concluded that Edwards engaged in “persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct” toward two former staffers, including lavish gifts, personal notes, comments about their appearance and invitations to one-on-one dinners and vacations. The committee found no evidence that Edwards engaged in sexual activity with the women or explicitly propositioned them, but determined that his conduct created a hostile work environment and violated House rules concerning sexual harassment and unwanted advances. Newsweek reached out to House Speaker Mike Johnson's office via email Tuesday night for comment.
Despite his apologies, Edwards continued to reject the Ethics Committee's central conclusion. He acknowledged that he had exercised poor judgment and said he regretted making the women uncomfortable, but maintained that his actions did not constitute sexual harassment. The censure represents the latest fallout for Edwards, who announced last month that he would not seek reelection after “much prayer and reflection.” Although censure is a formal rebuke and among the most serious disciplinary actions available to the House short of expulsion, it does not remove a member from Congress or strip them of their ability to vote.
The vote also comes amid broader scrutiny of how Congress handles allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior by lawmakers toward staff, with bipartisan lawmakers discussing potential reforms to the House's ethics and workplace rules. This is a developing story and will be updated. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gray R.
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