The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Rep. Chuck Edwards, a North Carolina Republican in his second term, over allegations of workplace misconduct and sexual harassment, the committee announced Thursday.
The inquiry was prompted by an Axios report in which three anonymous sources said they witnessed Edwards behave inappropriately toward two female staffers in their 20s. The sources, who were granted anonymity to avoid retaliation, described conduct that crossed professional boundaries and created an uncomfortable work environment, according to Axios.
Edwards, in a statement, said he welcomed the committee’s review and planned to fully cooperate.
“I am confident the investigation will expose the facts, not politically motivated fiction,” Edwards said.
The Ethics Committee, in its announcement, said it would make no further public comment and cautioned that merely disclosing the review “does not, by itself, indicate that any violation occurred.”
The investigation lands at a moment of intense focus on how lawmakers treat their staffs. It follows the resignations of Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, both of whom faced calls for expulsion over allegations related to their conduct before stepping down.
The committee did not provide a timeline for its inquiry.