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By Jordan King
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Republican Representative Chuck Edwards has dropped his bid for reelection amid sexual harassment allegations, hours before a separate deadline looms for fellow Republican Max Miller to withdraw over domestic abuse claims.
Edwards, a congressman from North Carolina, has denied the allegations and wrote on X on Wednesday: "After much prayer and reflection, I've decided to withdraw from my reelection campaign." He said he would complete his current term, and that representing western North Carolina had been "the honor of my life."
Edwards' announcement came two days after the bipartisan House Ethics Committee recommended that the full House censure him over what it described as "persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct" toward two young female staff members.
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Newsweek reached out to Edwards' office via voicemail and Miller's office via email for comment.
The Ethics Committee report found that Edwards failed "to adhere to the spirit of rules prohibiting sexual harassment of, and unwanted advances to, House staffers," and repeatedly blurred professional boundaries with two aides. Edwards has denied that any of his actions were intended as sexual or romantic advances, and challenged the committee's conclusions.
Meanwhile, Miller, a congressman from Ohio, has faced calls to step aside following allegations that he abused his former wife, Emily Moreno, and their young daughter. Miller has denied the claims.
Miller filed for divorce in August 2024, and the divorce was finalized on June 16, 2025.
Miller has until 4 p.m. on Wednesday to withdraw his reelection bid and allow Ohio Republicans to replace him on the November ballot. He has said he intends to remain in the race and requested that the House Ethics Committee investigate the allegations against him.
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What the Ethics Committee Found, and How Edwards Responded
The Ethics Committee’s investigation centered on Edwards’ treatment of two young women who worked for him, one of whom was a college student when she was hired and another who was in her early 20s. The committee said Edwards gave both women attention that went "well beyond norms of professional behavior" and contributed to discomfort and declining morale within his office.
According to the report, Edwards gave the women recurrent and expensive gifts, including jewelry, designer purses, guns, shoes, flowers, electronics and vacations. Investigators also detailed private dinners, late-night messages, comments about their appearances and invitations to spend time with him outside work. Other employees perceived the attention as preferential treatment, the committee said.
The committee found no evidence that Edwards engaged in sexual activity with either woman or explicitly propositioned anyone employed by him. It also did not conclude that he engaged in quid pro quo sexual harassment or violated federal sexual harassment law. But they did say his broader pattern of conduct could lead a reasonable observer to interpret his behavior as romantic or sexual advances
Edwards denied that his gifts, messages or invitations were intended as unwanted, sexual or romantic advances, and he rejected the finding that he created a hostile workplace.
His attorneys said the women did not directly tell him that his conduct made them uncomfortable and argued that he believed their distress arose from false rumors about an affair. They also characterized the gifts as products of personal friendship and said Edwards had been similarly generous toward other employees.
His legal team argued that the report effectively exonerated him under the House’s specific rules governing sexual harassment and misconduct because it found no sexual relationship, explicit proposition, quid pro quo harassment or violation of federal law.
The attorneys said the committee instead relied on broader requirements that members act in a way that reflects creditably on the House and follow the "spirit" of its rules. They called censure an unprecedented and disproportionate response based on subjective interpretations of his conduct.
Edwards’ lawyers also challenged the investigation itself, saying no affected staff member filed a complaint, no investigative subcommittee was established, and Edwards was not given a full opportunity to examine witnesses or contest the evidence.
Edwards nevertheless said through his attorneys that he "sincerely regrets" that his behavior caused either woman discomfort. His response said he agreed to respect appropriate boundaries after becoming aware of their concerns, while maintaining that neither staff member had previously indicated to him that his general behavior was unwelcome.
The withdrawal threatens Republicans in a district that had already become more competitive. Edwards won North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District by 12.8 percentage points in 2024, but election analysts subsequently moved the 2026 contest toward Democrats, and Democratic nominee Jamie Ager significantly outraised him.
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How Miller Has Responded
Miller has rejected calls to resign from Congress or withdraw from his reelection race as allegations involving his former wife and daughter have placed the previously Republican-leaning contest under greater scrutiny.
Moreno has accused him in court filings of physical and emotional abuse, as well as drug use.
She alleged, among other things, that Miller poured hot water on her and held a gun to her head. Miller has "categorically" denied abusing his ex-wife, describing the water incident as "horseplay" involving water from a kitchen sink sprayer that "does not reach boiling temperature or scalding" and saying Moreno did not seek medical treatment. He called the firearm allegation "absolutely outrageous" and said it "never happened."
Moreno has also accused him of injuring their young daughter, which Miller also denied. He said Child Protective Services had investigated allegations involving his daughter on multiple occasions and closed each inquiry as unsubstantiated with respect to him
Miller also faces legal action from White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, Newsweek previously reported. She has alleged he breached a confidential settlement reached after he sued her for defamation over earlier abuse allegations.
Miller, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, denied Grisham's allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit, which he voluntarily dismissed with prejudice in 2023 before the case went to trial. Miller has denied all the abuse allegations against him and said none have resulted in criminal charges.
The most prominent Republican to call for Miller to step down came from his former father-in-law, Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno. The senator said Miller does not meet the "basic standards of character required to hold elected office" and said Miller should "seek professional help."
How Trump Responded
On Monday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Miller's situation was "a very sad thing," adding: "I know Max, he's a good person, I mean, I always thought he was a very good person. And I'm going to let the families figure that out. Those families, I know they're working on it."
Miller has insisted that he will neither resign from Congress nor abandon his campaign, arguing that withdrawing would validate allegations he says are false. He also requested a House Ethics Committee investigation into himself, saying he had "absolutely nothing to hide."
"In light of all the renewed interest in my family affairs I am going to file my own paperwork for an ethics investigation into myself to clear my name from these horrific attacks on myself and family," he said in a post on X.
The House Ethics Committee confirmed Tuesday that it was proceeding with the investigation Miller requested, examining allegations of domestic violence and possible illegal drug use while emphasizing that opening the inquiry did not indicate that a violation had occurred.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson, Trevor Davies, Sam Wilson.
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