Chuck Edwards

North Carolina's Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, Axios reported April 30. Later in the afternoon, CNN reported the investigation stemmed from allegations of sexual harassment.

A lawyer from the committee said that Chair Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, and Democratic Rep. Mark DeSaulnier of California had authorized an investigation into "allegations involving Representative Chuck Edwards," Axios reported. The news agency said the investigation was confirmed by three sources. CNN, citing two unnamed sources, said it "could not immediately learn the precise nature of the improper behavior, nor was it clear whether the committee had yet corroborated any of the allegations."

“You can call my office for my statement,” Edwards told USA TODAY April 30 after an afternoon vote about a spy powers law.

"I welcome any investigation, given the professionalism my staff has demonstrated and my commitment to serving the people of Western NC. Given the current political environment we are facing in our nation, it comes as no surprise that others with their own political agendas will attempt to raise false accusations in order to create news stories," Edwards told Axios in a statement.

An Edwards spokesperson responded to a request for comment from the Citizen Times with the same statement.

A spokesperson from the U.S. Committee on House Ethics declined to comment when contacted by the Citizen Times April 30. Merry Parris Guy, chair of North Carolina's 11th District Republican Party, declined to comment April 30.

The reported investigation comes on the heels of a series of high-profile ethics investigations into Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Tony Gonzales and Rep. Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick. All three resigned before their House Ethics Committee investigation was complete. On April 23, NOTUS reported that North Carolina Democrat Alma Adams was under investigation into an alleged inappropriate relationship between the lawmaker and a staffer.

Edwards is Trump-endorsed

First elected in 2022 after ousting then-Rep. Madison Cawthorn during the Republican Primary, Edwards, 65, has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who called him a "MAGA Warrior" in October. He represents the 11th Congressional District, which includes most of Western North Carolina, a region severely impacted by the historic and deadly Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024.

Edwards, a Henderson County native, won the 2026 primary by defeating former Green Beret Adam Smith. Edwards previously served in the North Carolina Senate from 2016 to 2022.

The owner of a McDonald's franchise with locations in Haywood, Henderson and Transylvania counties, Edwards serves on the House Appropriations Committee and House Budget Committee.

This is not the first time that Edwards has faced congressional probes. In 2024, Edwards was unanimously sanctioned by the bipartisan Communications Standards Commission for violating rules on congressional mass communications for attacking Democratic President Joe Biden in emailed newsletters to constituents. Edwards was issued a “no-fine” penalty, the Citizen Times reported.

Democrats consider Edwards' seat vulnerable in the 2026 election, nominating farmer and CEO of Hickory Nut Gap Farms Jamie Ager to run against him.

"Our leaders should be held to the highest standards. Corruption or abuses of power in any way are unacceptable. The people of Western North Carolina deserve to hear from their representative about what these allegations are," Ager wrote on social media in a post linking to the Axios story.

Western Carolina University professor of political science Chris Cooper noted that the investigation comes at a time when Edwards looks more vulnerable than he was in 2024.

"It is coming at a time where he appears to be in a close race — a race that people a year and a half ago certainly did not think was going to be close," Cooper told the Citizen Times.

Hendersonville Times-News reporter George Russell contributed to this report.

USA TODAY reporter Zachary Schermele contributed to this report.

This story will be updated.

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected] or message will_hofmann.01 on Signal.