Two days after the House Ethics Committee released a report on its investigation into Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson County) over alleged sexual harassment, the two-term congressman announced via X at 3:32 a.m. on Wednesday that he would not seek re-election.
“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign,” Edwards’ statement said in part.
The report published earlier this week found that Edwards failed to “adhere to the spirit of rules prohibiting sexual harassment of and unwanted advances to House staffers,” and recommended he be censured for conduct towards two former staffers.
Being censured is a form of condemnation of conduct for a member of the House or Senate by their colleagues in the chamber. After expulsion, it’s considered the second-most severe punishment for a member of Congress.
With Edwards exiting the race, the Republican Party’s Executive Committee for the 11th District is expected to choose his replacement for the November election.
While he is ending his re-election campaign, he will serve out the remainder of his term, which ends on Jan. 3 of next year.
What was Edwards accused of?
Among the examples provided in the report were reading a poem aloud at one of the staffer’s going-away celebrations and “choking up and becoming teary-eyed,” which Edwards admitted to the committee made other staff uncomfortable.
Edwards also wrote a personal letter to that same staffer, which included a line saying she had “written a complex chapter in my heart.”
The report detailed that the two staffers at the center of the allegations against Edwards were also given gifts, including guns, designer purses, jewelry, dinners, and more.
He also allegedly skipped votes to decorate one of the women’s Christmas tree.
The report concluded Edwards did not propose or engage in sexual activity with either staffer. He has denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
Jamie Ager, whom Cardinal & Pine interviewed in June, is the Democratic nominee in the race.
“My heart goes out to the young women who took these roles to serve our community,” Ager said in a statement following Edwards announcement.
