WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a rare move Tuesday the U.S. House of Representatives voted to censure Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina.
Tuesday’s vote was bipartisan with 413 lawmakers voting to support the censure. Two lawmakers, Edwards and Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., were only votes against it.
The vote came after the bipartisan House Ethics Committee released a report in August recommending his censure after the committee found Edwards “engaged in unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.”
The report did not find Edwards engaged in sexual activity or explicitly propositioned either employee, but he did give them “lavish gifts,” including designer purses and jewelry and sent late-evening personal text messages.
The report said Edwards violated House rules by “failing to adhere to the spirit of rules prohibiting sexual harassment,” and that they “do not implicate quid pro quo sexual harassment, but rather that Representative Edwards’ comments and behavior created a hostile work environment.”
Tuesday afternoon, hours before the vote, Edwards spoke on the House floor and apologized for his behavior.
“I am sorry that my actions, my judgment or the way that I expressed a friendship ever put either of you in an uncomfortable position,” Edwards said. “I can acknowledge poor judgment, regret the discomfort that some of my actions may have caused and apologize to those that were hurt… while still disputing a conclusion that the evidence simply doesn’t support.”
In a letter to colleagues last week Edwards laid out why they should not vote to censure him, saying the committee did not conclude he implicated quid pro quo sexual harassment.
He added there is no rule prohibiting members and staff from being friends.
While there is no actual consequence when a lawmaker is censured, it’s a strong voice of disapproval for a members’ actions.
This is just the 29th time in the House’s history it’s voted to censure a member.
Shortly after the report was released Edwards announced he wouldn’t seek re-election, and Jennifer Balkcom was chosen to replace him as the Republican nominee.
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