House Censures Rep. Chuck Edwards in 413-2 Vote Over Harassment Allegations
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 413-2 on Tuesday to formally censure North Carolina Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards, following a months-long investigation by the House Ethics Committee into allegations he harassed two young female staffers. The near-unanimous vote marks one of the strongest rebukes Congress can issue short of expulsion.
According to NPR, 207 Republicans and one independent voted alongside 205 Democrats in favor of censure. Only Edwards himself and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) voted against the resolution. Following the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson asked Edwards to present himself in the well of the chamber as the censure resolution was read aloud.
The Ethics Investigation
The censure stems from a 20-page report released by the bipartisan House Ethics Committee on August 3, which found that Edwards “engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.” The committee determined there was substantial evidence that Edwards violated the spirit of the House’s prohibition on sexual harassment and unwanted advances, creating a hostile work environment.
The committee did not find evidence that Edwards engaged in sexual activity with or explicitly propositioned either staffer, nor was there evidence of quid pro quo harassment. However, investigators detailed a pattern of behavior that included lavish gifts—jewelry totaling over $1,000, designer purses, guns, shoes, a laptop, a KitchenAid mixer—along with comments about the women’s appearances, late-night messages, one-on-one dinners, and vacations.
Text messages released with the report showed Edwards skipped House votes in December 2024 to help decorate a staffer’s Christmas tree and canceled a tele-town hall with constituents in October 2025 for a dinner with a former staffer, as the Asheville Citizen Times reported.
“A Member of Congress should not single out a staffer and isolate them from other staff, make frequent comments regarding that person’s appearance and weight, send messages in the middle of the night, text staff deeply personal and seemingly romantic thoughts, intrude on personal occasions without invitation, pay for personal vacations, and spend thousands of dollars on gifts for staffers,” the report stated. “That Representative Edwards did all these things to two young staffers, repeatedly over a sustained period, was beyond inappropriate.”
Edwards’ Defense
Speaking from the House floor ahead of the vote, Edwards pleaded with colleagues to “judge me on the facts, not on the inference, insinuation or headlines.” He acknowledged being “imperfect” and apologized to the two staffers, saying he recognized that “my understanding of those relationships may not have always matched yours,” but insisted that “regret is not an admission of sexual harassment.”
“Generosity is not sexual harassment. Caring deeply about the people with whom you’ve worked for years is not sexual harassment,” Edwards said, as ABC News reported. “Possibility is not proof, inference is not evidence, and selective context is not totality.”
Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) pushed back, saying the committee found Edwards was “at a minimum, blind to the reality, and at worst, dismissive of the impact his conduct had on the career and well-being of the women on his staff.” Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) told ABC News, “I do this with no joy, but the ethics report—I think it’s pretty clear and convincing.”
Political Fallout
Edwards, who represents North Carolina’s 11th District, had already withdrawn from his reelection campaign on August 5, two days after the Ethics Committee recommended censure. The North Carolina Republican Party subsequently selected state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom to replace him on the November ballot, where she will face Democrat Jamie Ager.
Edwards is the 29th member in U.S. House history to be censured. The previous censure was of Rep. Al Green (D-TX) in 2025 for disrupting President Trump’s joint address to Congress.
The censure comes amid a wave of congressional misconduct scandals this cycle. As Political.org noted, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales both resigned from the House in April amid sexual misconduct allegations, while other members face ongoing ethics investigations.
What’s Next
Edwards, who said he will complete his current term, posted on X following the vote: “I respect the House vote. I do not accept the conclusion that it produced.” His campaign spokesperson Paul Shumaker said Edwards “looks forward to having his name cleared.”
The race to succeed Edwards in NC-11 has become increasingly competitive, with national forecasters moving the district toward toss-up territory. The district, which was hit hardest by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, will be closely watched in November as voters weigh the fallout from the censure alongside broader recovery concerns.