Congressman Chuck Edwards, R-North Carolina, will not seek reelection following a report that said he sexually harassed female staffers.
"After much prayer and reflection, I've decided to withdraw from my reelection campaign. I will complete my current term," Edwards wrote on X. "Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America."
A House Ethics Committee report released this week found that Edwards violated rules of conduct, sexually harassing two women who worked for him and creating a hostile work environment.
The committee report concluded that it found "numerous specific instances" where Edwards engaged in "unprofessional conduct" that gave the appearance of a "sexual or romantic advance." The investigation did not find that he had a sexual relationship with the women or overtly propositioned them.
Edwards, the report stated, showered the women with gifts "including jewelry totaling over $1,000, designer purses, guns, shoes, flowers, a laptop and cell phone, KitchenAid mixer, robotic vacuum, vacations, tickets to performances, and one-on-one dinners."
Edwards also frequently commented on the appearance of the two staffers and did things that made them "uncomfortable," according to the report.
One of the staffers, who was 19 when she was hired, told investigators that Edwards brought her to a holiday event at the White House and hid details about it from other staffers. That evening, he brought her flowers and texted her that he was "so excited about tonight" and wanted things to be "perfect." After the event, the woman said that Edwards pressured her to spend more time with him and insisted she ride in his car with him and his driver.
A second female staffer told investigators that Edwards would come over to her house to do chores, or to pick her up for events. He even decorated her Christmas tree with her. Once Edwards took her to a casino, paid for her to gamble and bought her drinks. After she texted him a thank you, he printed the text, drew a heart around it and wrote, "Perhaps my proudest personal moment!"
When the woman eventually left Edwards' staff, he read poems he had written about her at her going-away party during a slideshow presentation that brought him to tears. "Several staffers present testified that they felt uncomfortable, and Representative Edwards acknowledged in his own testimony that he could tell the staff felt uncomfortable," the report states.
Edwards denied to investigators that any of his behavior was romantic in nature, and insisted that he had "professional boss-subordinate relationships" and "friendships" with the women.
Edwards' decision not to seek reelection could impact the midterms as Democrats look to gain enough seats to win a majority. Roll Call reported that Edwards is currently serving his second term and is a member of the Appropriations and Budget committees.
North Carolina requires a candidate to file paperwork to withdraw before overseas and military ballots are mailed on Sept. 4. If Edwards meets the deadline, Republicans would have the opportunity to replace him on the ballot, Roll Call reported.
The North Carolina 11th District was expected to be a close race even before Edwards withdrew. Axios reported that Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it a "toss-up" election. The website noted that Edwards' Democratic challenger, Jamie Ager, had significantly outraised Edwards.
