House Votes 413-2 To Censure Republican Congressman Over Harassment Allegations

News broke on Tuesday evening that the House of Representatives voted 413-2 to formally censure outgoing Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) over sexual harassment allegations involving two former female staffers.

The rebuke came after a months-long investigation by the bipartisan House Ethics Committee, which concluded in an August report that Edwards had engaged in “persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers” and recommended his censure.

The committee detailed frequent comments about the women’s appearances and weight, late-night messages, deeply personal texts, one-on-one dinners, and thousands of dollars worth of gifts. Those gifts included jewelry, designer purses, guns, shoes, flowers, electronics, vacations, and a KitchenAid mixer, according to the report.

While the committee did not find evidence that Edwards had sex with or explicitly propositioned either woman, it nevertheless found “substantial evidence” that his behavior “violated the spirit of the House’s prohibition on sexual harassment and unwanted advances” and created a hostile work environment.

Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, speaking on the House floor, Edwards urged his colleagues to “judge me on the facts, not on the inference, insinuation or headlines.”

He also apologized to the two former staffers, telling them, “I recognize now that my understanding of those relationships may not have always matched yours,” but maintained that his conduct did not amount to harassment.

“Regret is not an admission of sexual harassment,” Edwards said.

The House ultimately voted 413-2 to censure Edwards, with Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) joining Edwards as the only other lawmaker to oppose the resolution. Censure is the House’s most severe punishment short of expulsion.

In a 22-page letter to his colleagues earlier this month, Edwards additionally attempted to fend off the allegations, writing, “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.”

Watch above on C-SPAN.

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