Rep. Chuck Edwards files complaint against House Ethics

Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican from North Carolina, has filed a complaint against the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Ethics Committee. The Democrat and Republican members are Michael Guest and Mark DeSaulnier, respectively. Edwards claims they violated their own rules while investigating him. This comes two weeks after the House voted 413-2 to censure Edwards over allegations of sexual harassment and a hostile workplace.

Edwards requests the Office of Congressional Conduct to investigate Guest and DeSaulnier for their handling of his case. The Ethics Committee previously denied Edwards' account of the process. Guest and DeSaulnier claim Edwards waived certain procedural steps after reviewing a draft of the report. Axios reported that Edwards singled out two young female staffers in their 20s for inappropriate attention.

Edwards denies the allegations, stating that his conduct did not violate House rules. He had apologized to his wife, family, and the two women he allegedly harassed. The committee did not comment on Edwards' complaint. The Ethics report corroborated various anecdotes reported by Axios, including handwritten correspondence, gifts, and outings.

Edwards gave the women gifts worth over $1,000, including jewelry, designer purses, guns, shoes, and vacations. The Ethics panel found these gifts as supporting evidence for their findings.