The House Ethics Committee has recommended that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) be censured for "persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers," according to a statement released on Monday.
The committee's investigation, which concluded after months of review, found that Edwards engaged in behavior that violated House rules and standards of conduct. The recommendation now goes to the full House for a vote, which could occur as early as this week.
Edwards, who represents North Carolina's 11th District, has denied the allegations, calling them "baseless" in a statement. However, the committee's report details specific incidents, including unwanted comments and physical contact, that it says created a hostile work environment.
If the House approves the censure, it would be a formal disapproval of Edwards' conduct, though it would not strip him of his committee assignments or voting rights. Censure is one of the harshest punishments short of expulsion.
The case has drawn attention as part of a broader reckoning over workplace conduct in Congress, with several lawmakers facing similar ethics reviews in recent years.
