The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards of North Carolina over allegations of sexual harassment and claims that he may have fostered a hostile work environment for staff members.
The bipartisan committee announced Thursday that it is reviewing accusations involving Edwards’ conduct toward younger female staffers, following multiple media reports detailing alleged inappropriate interactions within his congressional office.
According to reports, one former female staffer allegedly complained to colleagues that Edwards pressured her into attending dinners and drinks with him. The concerns were later reportedly raised with his chief of staff. Additional claims suggest the congressman sent the former aide a personal handwritten note after her departure, along with a custom-made puzzle and an invitation to attend a comedy show together.
Edwards has strongly denied the allegations, previously describing them as “baseless.” In a statement, the North Carolina lawmaker said he welcomed the ethics investigation and intended to fully cooperate with the committee.
“As I have stated, I welcome any investigation and plan to comply fully with the Committee,” Edwards said. “I am confident the investigation will expose the facts, not politically motivated fiction.”
The investigation comes after reports from Axios and Politico revealed growing scrutiny surrounding Edwards’ alleged behavior toward staff members, including claims of an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. However, the allegations have not been independently confirmed.
House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the controversy, calling the allegations “serious” and “concerning,” while emphasizing the importance of due process.
“We cannot allow mere allegations to be a determining factor here,” Johnson said, adding that Edwards maintains the accusations are untrue.
The House Ethics Committee clarified that the launch of the investigation does not indicate that any rules violations have occurred. The committee, which is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, is responsible for examining misconduct allegations involving members of Congress.
The probe into Edwards arrives during an active period for the committee, which is also handling investigations involving several lawmakers over allegations ranging from sexual misconduct to campaign finance violations.
Democrats are expected to use the controversy as part of their efforts to challenge Edwards in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District during the upcoming midterm elections.