The House Ethics Committee announced Thursday that it has officially opened an investigation into North Carolina Republican Representative Chuck Edwards following serious allegations of sexual harassment and the creation of a hostile work environment.
According to a statement released by the committee, the probe centers on whether Edwards violated the Code of Official Conduct through his interactions with two former female staffers. The committee emphasized that the start of an investigation is a procedural step and does not represent a final conclusion regarding his guilt or innocence.
“The Committee, pursuant to Committee Rule 18(a), is reviewing allegations that Representative Chuck Edwards may have created or fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment,” the panel stated, adding that no further public comments will be made until the process concludes.
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The allegations involve a series of incidents reported by Axios, including text messages from May 2025. In those exchanges, Edwards reportedly pressured a female staffer to get dinner with him. When she declined, citing the “outside chatter” regarding their dynamic, Edwards allegedly replied that it was “disappointing” that something “easy has gotten complicated.”
The staffer, who has remained anonymous, told reporters she felt objectified by the congressman’s frequent comments on her physical appearance and feared professional retaliation. Reports also indicate an incident in December 2024 where Edwards allegedly asked the staffer to leave the office early to help him retrieve a credit card from a Georgetown bar, where he then pressured her to drink and take multiple shots of alcohol.
The staffer eventually reported these concerns to Edwards’ chief of staff before resigning from her position.
Edwards has remained defiant in the face of the probe. In a statement, he characterized the accusations as “politically motivated fiction” and expressed confidence that the formal review would clear his name.
“As I have stated, I welcome any investigation and plan to comply fully with the Committee,” Edwards said. He previously told CNN that he has never engaged in an inappropriate relationship with any member of his staff.
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