Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) and Vice Chairs Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Hillary Scholten (MI-03) released the following statement on the vote to censure Representative Chuck Edwards (NC-11) after it was found he violated the House Code of Official Conduct rules on sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. A censure would require that Rep. Edwards stands on the floor while the censure resolution is read out loud. If censured, Rep. Edwards will stand on the floor while the censure resolution is read out loud. 

“Today, the House of Representatives will vote to censure Rep. Chuck Edwards after an ethics investigation found a disturbing and consistent pattern of sexual harassment. Rep. Edwards spent years harassing two young women on his staff, forcing them to leave their jobs. He continues to deny that his actions were sexual harassment and has shown no remorse.

We are appreciative of the House Committee on Ethics’ thorough investigation and urge all of our colleagues to vote to censure Rep. Edwards.

However, we want to be clear that this vote is not an adequate consequence for the years of sexual harassment. Rep. Edwards should resign immediately. 

We have been working tirelessly to address the pervasive sexual misconduct on the Hill and will continue to work to make Congress a better and safer environment for women staffers. The bare minimum we can do is vote to censure Rep. Edwards, but we must do more.”