WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Embattled North Carolina Republican congressman Chuck Edwards withdrew from his reelection campaign on Wednesday, two days after the House Ethics Committee for unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female aides in his office.
The 65-year-old Edwards, who is serving his second term, said that he made the decision to drop his reelection bid after 鈥渕uch prayer and reflection鈥� and that he would complete the current term.
The Ethics Committee recommended the censure, an act registering its deep disapproval of a lawmaker鈥檚 conduct that does not meet the threshold for expulsion, on Monday. The panel highlighted numerous examples of actions it considered improper, including Edwards providing the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, and sending notes regarding his affection.
Edwards denied that any of was intended as a sexual or romantic advance, but the committee said his behavior would 鈥渓ead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such.鈥�
鈥淪erving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life,鈥� Edwards said in a post on X. 鈥淭hank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America.鈥�
North Carolina Republican Sen. Ted Budd said Edwards “did the right thing by withdrawing from the race.鈥�
In a statement, the senator said the congressman has been 鈥渁 fighter for the people of Western North Carolina as they work to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, and I know he鈥檒l continue to advocate for disaster funding for the remainder of his time in D.C.鈥�
Budd鈥檚 spokesman, Christian McMullen, said the senator found the House Ethics Committee’s report on Edwards 鈥渄eeply concerning” and believed the congressman already faced a significant uphill battle trailing in the polls even before the report’s publication. He declined to say whether the senator asked his colleague to step aside, saying the senator does not discuss private conversations.
The Ethic Committee described Edwards’ actions as 鈥渂eyond inappropriate鈥� but said it found no evidence that he explicitly propositioned any person under his employ or engaged in any sexual activity with them.
In a response to the Ethics Committee’s report, Edwards鈥� attorneys argued that the committee鈥檚 findings 鈥渆xonerate鈥� the congressman. His attorneys said the recommendation of censure was an 鈥渆xtraordinarily harsh and infrequent punishment鈥� based on vague standards and adherence to the spirit of House rules, 鈥渘ot based on a direct violation of House rules addressing sexual misconduct.鈥�
State law requires Edwards to put his intent to withdraw in writing and submit it to the state Board of Elections before ballots are mailed to overseas voters and the military. The Republican executive committee in Edwards’ district will name a replacement.
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