The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation Thursday into Republican North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards over allegations of sexual harassment and a “hostile work environment.”
Edwards allegedly acted inappropriately toward two now-former female staffers, including one who accused him of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. The committee said in a Thursday statement that it is currently reviewing the allegations and has made no conclusions.“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 in violation of the Code of Official Conduct or any other applicable standard of conduct,” the committee wrote. “The Committee notes that the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations, and publicly disclosing its review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred. No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.”
House Ethics Committee announced it’s “reviewing allegations that Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC) may have created or fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment in violation of the Code of Official Conduct or any other applicable standard of… pic.twitter.com/fm3jlp8oYR
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) May 14, 2026
“As I have stated, I welcome any investigation and plan to comply fully with the Committee. I am confident the investigation will expose the facts, not politically motivated fiction,” Edwards told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Text messages from May 2025 reportedly showed Edwards attempting to take a then-female staffer to dinner, though she stated it was not a good idea, according to Axios. Edwards then replied, “It’s disappointing to feel something that used to be easy has gotten complicated…I didn’t expect outside chatter to change that.”
The woman in question, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, said she felt uncomfortable and objectified after Edwards complimented her appearance, Axios reported. She reportedly worried about facing retaliation from Edwards if she reported his behavior.
Edwards reportedly asked the staffer to leave the office early with him to pick up his credit card on Dec. 18, 2024, which he had accidentally left behind at a Georgetown bar, according to Axios. He then encouraged her to go out drinking with him, and he repeatedly pressured her to take shots on multiple occasions.
The former staffer eventually reported the behavior to Edwards’ chief of staff, who then spoke to the congressman, according to Axios. The then-staffer soon left the office.
Edwards denied ever having an inappropriate relationship with his staff in a statement to CNN Tuesday.
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