Congressman Chuck Edwards drops re-election bid after ethics investigation

North Carolina Congressman Chuck Edwards has dropped his bid for re-election after a House committee recommended to censure him over sexual harassment allegations.

"After much prayer, thoughtful reflection, and many conversations with my family, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from my re-election campaign," he wrote in a social media post released early Wednesday morning.

His announcement comes just days after the House Ethics Committee said Edwards "engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct", following its months-long investigation into allegations against him.

The Republican has denied any wrongdoing, and the committee's report does not amount to guilt.

Edwards said in his post on Wednesday that he intends to complete the remainder of his current term, which will end on 3 January.

"This decision has not come easily," Edwards, who has represented the western part of the state since 2023, said about dropping out of the race. "Public service always requires sacrifice - not only from those who serve, but from their spouses, families, volunteers, and supporters."

On Monday, the ethics committee recommended the House of Representatives censure Edwards, saying its investigation found he violated the chamber's code of conduct. A censure is a formal reprimand.

In its 25-page report, the committee said Edwards "engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers".

His actions failed "to adhere to the spirit of rules prohibiting sexual harassment of and unwanted advances to House staffers", the report said.

The House Ethics Committee, which is bipartisan, said the congressman denied that any of his behaviour was intended as a sexual or romantic advance.

The committee also said it found no evidence that Edwards engaged in sexual activity with or explicitly propositioned any of his staff and that he cooperated with the investigation.

But it added that his "pattern of behaviour would lead a reasonable observer" to interpret his actions as sexual advances.

Those actions, according to the committee, included "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".

Edwards, a business owner, came to office after defeating Madison Cawthorn in the 2022 Republican primary. Cawthorn, who is currently seeking the Republican nomination for a House seat in Florida, had faced his own sexual misconduct allegations.