Chuck Edwards of North Carolina is appealing to his House colleagues not to censure him over his conduct toward two female staffers. Edwards dropped his re-election bid on Aug. 5 following an Aug. 3 House Ethics Committee report that found the Republican lawmaker had “engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct” toward the two staffers. The panel recommended Edwards’ censure, and a vote is expected next week.
Ahead of the vote, however, Edwards wrote a six-page letter addressed to other House members defending himself, saying that while he recognizes some of his colleagues may view his interactions differently, “context matters” in assessing them. A compliment is not sexual misconduct. Poetry is not sexual misconduct.
Socializing with a colleague is not sexual misconduct. Caring deeply about someone with whom you have worked and come to know for years is not sexual misconduct.” The 65-year-old lawmaker noted that the panel concluded he had “neither engaged in sexual activity with nor explicitly propositioned any individual staff member,” that he “did not violate federal sexual harassment law,” and that “the allegations in this matter do not implicate quid pro quo sexual harassment.” He claimed in the letter that his behavior toward the two staffers was similar to that toward his other staff—including gifts he’d given and trips he’d taken with or arranged for them. Attached to the letter was a one-page factsheet and a memo submitted by Edwards’ counsel to the House committee responding to the report.
Edwards alleged the panel had cherry-picked certain evidence to fit a narrative. While censure does not remove a House member from office, it is one of the strongest forms of public rebuke in the chamber. A majority vote is required to censure a lawmaker.
TIME did not immediately hear back from Edwards’ office or the House ethics panel when asked for comment. Edwards is one of several House lawmakers who has faced allegations of sexual misconduct this year. Eric Swalwell of California, a Democrat, and Tony Gonzales of Texas, a Republican, resigned in April under bipartisan pressure from their colleagues and threats of expulsion amid separate allegations.
Besides Edwards, the House ethics panel is also investigating allegations against Republican Rep. Cory Mills of Florida, who lost his Aug. 18 primary. On Aug. 17, the panel also announced it was reviewing allegations that Democratic Rep.
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