GOP Rep Chuck Edwards drops re-election bid after House ethics report recommends censure

Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., announced early on Wednesday morning that he was dropping his re-election bid.

"After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. I will complete my current term. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America," Edwards noted in a post on X that was published at 3:32 a.m. ET.

The announcement came two days after the House Ethics Committee released a report recommending Edwards' censure.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Edwards' congressional office and campaign on Wednesday morning.

Edwards has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2023.

He decisively won the GOP primary in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District earlier this year.

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But on Monday, the House Committee on Ethics issued a report finding Edwards "engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers."

While Edwards "denied that any of his conduct was intended as a sexual or romantic advance, his pattern of behavior would lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such, including providing the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, sending notes regarding his effusive affection, and inviting them to other activities as a way to spend time together," the report says.

The committee said it found "no evidence that Representative Edwards engaged in sexual activity with or explicitly propositioned any individual under his employ."

Edwards "was aware, however, that his excessive attention toward the young women had led to rumors and innuendo in the office," the report says. "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. Representative Edwards was at minimum blind to that reality, and at worst, dismissive of the impact his inappropriate conduct had on the careers and wellbeing of two women on his staff."

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"The Committee hereby adopts this Report in this matter and recommends Representative Edwards be censured for his conduct," the document noted.