Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) was censured by the House on Tuesday after the Ethics Committee found he failed "to adhere to the spirit of rules prohibiting sexual harassment of and unwanted advances to House staffers." Why it matters: The vote amounts to a remarkable bipartisan rebuke, with the GOP leadership team and the vast majority of Edwards' own party joining Democrats to impose one of the House's most serious punishments. - The Ethics Committee's findings follow Axios' reporting that Edwards singled out two young female staffers in their 20s for special attention that multiple sources described as inappropriate. - Every Democrat and all but two Republicans voted to censure Edwards, who abandoned his reelection campaign last…
The House Ethics Committee is facing one of its busiest stretches in years as lawmakers confront a growing pileup of misconduct allegations . - "He has had a great challenge, the chairman of Ethics Committee, that committee is very busy right now," Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told Axios on Friday. Why it matters: Pressure is growing on Congress to prove it can police itself amid a wave of misconduct allegations. But top lawmakers say the panel tasked with investigating those claims needs more resources to keep up. - Two lawmakers — Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) — resigned last month amid sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell denied wrongdoing, while Gonzales acknowledged an affair with a staffer…
The House Ethics Committee has begun investigating Rep. Chuck Edwards over unspecified allegations against the North Carolina Republican, Axios has learned from three sources familiar with the probe. Why it matters: Democrats are working hard to unseat Edwards in November, and an Ethics probe could damage the GOP lawmaker's reelection prospects. - In an email obtained by Axios, a lawyer from the committee said that Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.) and ranking member, Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), had authorized ethics staff to investigate "allegations involving Representative Chuck Edwards." No allegations were specified. - Multiple aides who've worked for Edwards have received similar communications from the committee, sources told Axios.…
A bipartisan panel of House Ethics Committee members found Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) guilty of financial misconduct and other charges on summary judgment following a testy, hours-long hearing. Why it matters: The Ethics Committee will meet in mid-April to decide on appropriate punitive action, which could include fines, censure or even expulsion. - Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) has said he plans to force a vote on expelling Cherfilus-McCormick as soon as the Ethics Committee process wraps up. - House Democratic leadership has argued such a step should not be taken until Cherfilus-McCormick's criminal trial is resolved — though their members are growing increasingly uncomfortable with the situation. - Cherfilus-McCormick,…
The House Ethics Committee is poised to hold a rare public hearing to consider charges of financial misconduct against Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), Axios has learned. Why it matters: A public meeting of any kind is highly unusual for the secretive panel, which hasn't held a televised disciplinary hearing in nearly 15 years. - As Cherfilus-McCormick's chief of staff Naomie Pierre-Louis put it to Axios: "Public ethics trials are extremely rare." - Cherfilus-McCormick has denied the allegations against her. Driving the news: An investigative subcommittee of the Ethics panel released a 59-page report last week detailing a litany of allegations against Cherfilus-McCormick. - Most notably, it said there is "substantial"…