House Republican disciplined for 'inappropriate conduct' toward female staffers

SALT LAKE CITY — The House censured a member of the Republican Party on Tuesday after an investigation by the Ethics Committee found he had engaged in "unprofessional and inappropriate conduct" toward two young staffers who worked in his office.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a censure resolution against North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards, formally condemning the two-term congressman in a rarely used disciplinary tool. Edwards is only the 29th member in history to be officially censured by the House of Representatives.

The ethics report, released early last month, found that Edwards had violated House rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces. While the investigation did not find Edwards had engaged in sexual activity with the staffers, the committee found he "was aware … that his excessive attention toward the young women had led to rumors and innuendo in the office."

"Both women were uncomfortable with his behavior (which they attempted to communicate) but were put in an untenable position by virtue of his status as their boss and a Member of Congress," the report stated. "Representative Edwards was at minimum blind to that reality, and at worst, dismissive of the impact his inappropriate conduct had on the careers and well-being of two women on his staff."

The committee recommended censuring him for the conduct, stopping short of declaring he should be removed from office — the most severe punishment for a lawmaker.

Edwards vehemently rejected the report's findings, sending a letter to Republican colleagues last week defending himself and rejecting the report during a floor speech on Tuesday afternoon. However, Edwards acquiesced to some pressure by suspending his reelection bid earlier this summer.

"Judge me on the facts, not on the inference, insinuation, or headlines," Edwards said. "Regret is not an admission of sexual harassment. I can acknowledge poor judgment, regret the discomfort that some of my actions may have caused, and apologize to those who were hurt by this episode while still disputing a conclusion that the evidence just simply does not support."

Edwards rejected the committee's conclusion that his actions amounted to sexual harassment. However, the report detailed several instances in which the North Carolina Republican's behavior "would lead a reasonable observer to interpret" it as romantic advances.

That behavior included "lavish and recurrent gifts," comments about their appearance, invitations to "intimate dinners and vacations," written notes describing his "effusive affections," and invitations to activities to spend personal time together.

"My intentions were only grounded in what I understood our friendship to be, and in genuine admiration and respect that I had for each of you, not only as people but as professionals," Edwards said. "I recognize now that my understanding of those relationships may not have always matched yours."

Censures have historically been a rare disciplinary tactic used by the House, although they have become more common in recent years. Those resolutions have typically fallen along party lines, driven by members in the majority party.

However, the censure resolution against Edwards garnered widespread Republican support — including from members of party leadership. All four members of Utah's House delegation voted for the resolution.

The resolution does little more than become a permanent part of the lawmaker's record, as it does not restrict his voting ability or remove him from committee assignments, unless House members choose to do that at a later date.

However, Edwards was required to stand at the front of the House chamber as House Speaker Mike Johnson, who voted to censure, read the resolution aloud for the entire body to hear.

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