House Censures Republican Congressman Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

U.S. House CENSURES Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC).

Following the vote, Rep. Edwards stood in well of the House while Speaker Johnson read the censure resolution against him from the chair. pic.twitter.com/kUqIdTaJvq

— CSPAN (@cspan) September 1, 2026

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It also comes as Congress is grappling with how to protect aides from members’ bad behavior amid a rash of harassment and assault allegations against lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

In Edwards’ case, the Ethics Committee found the lawmaker participated in “persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers” and made comments on the appearance of his aides, including on one staffer’s weight.

According to the report, Edwards gave the female aides purses, guns, shoes and flowers. Edwards skipped House votes one night to decorate a Christmas tree with a staffer and went drinking and gambling with her. The lawmaker recited a poem at her departure celebration and cried during it, making the staff uncomfortable, the committee said.

“Neither individual felt free to reject Rep. Edwards’ attention without fear of professional consequences,” said Rep. Mark Desaulnier of California, the top Democrat on the Ethics panel, during floor debate on the censure measure.

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.@RepChuckEdwards (R-NC) defends himself during U.S. House debate to censure him for misconduct: "Generosity is not sexual harassment. Caring deeply about the people with whom you've worked for years is not sexual harassment." pic.twitter.com/k6DmlqcDoO

— CSPAN (@cspan) September 1, 2026

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Speaking from the House floor ahead of the censure vote, Edwards pleaded with his colleagues to “judge me on the facts, not on the inference, insinuation or headlines.”

He apologized to the two staffers at the center of the investigation, saying, “I recognize now that my understanding of those relationships may not have always matched yours.” He insisted, however, that “regret is not an admission of sexual harassment.”

The House Ethics panel recommended the censure as part of an Aug. 3 report on their investigation — a report that determined he “engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.”

The committee found he created a hostile work environment, citing “substantial evidence” he “violated the spirit of the House’s prohibition on sexual harassment and unwanted advances.”

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