When the heat is on, look to Chappelle (and plead the FiF).
If Chuck Edwards listened to me – and I know he DOES NOT – I’d have him following the path of one Mr. David Chappelle.
That’s right: *Plead the fizz-iff.*
Dave’s way would have to work better than whatever it is Chuck and his gang have been doing.
Apparently, the House Ethics Committee has spoken and decided that Edwards needs to be censured before the full House for “persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female aides in his congressional office.”
Censuring is basically a scolding. There are no criminal charges or financial penalties that come with a censure. To most people, it would be embarrassing. It certainly can’t be helpful to an incumbent Republican congressman currently in a political and fundraising dogfight with a quality challenger.
Here’s more:
[…] Edwards, 65, has denied that any of his conduct was intended as a sexual or romantic advance, but the committee said his behavior would “lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such.” It also described his actions as “beyond inappropriate.”
The panel highlighted numerous examples of actions it considered improper, including Edwards providing the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, and sending notes regarding his affection. […]
Let’s check out some examples and exhibits from the ethics proceeding, shall we?
Here’s a personalized puzzle showing tickets – for Edwards and the staffer, of course — to an Adam Sandler concert plus an offer to provide drinks and dinner afterward.
This is a pic of 30-some flavors of ice cream Edwards reportedly sent to one of the former staffers. (Read the text exchange below.)
Wait, there’s MORE:
[…] The Ethics panel found no evidence Edwards explicitly propositioned any person under his employ or engaged in any sexual activity with them. But it also said he failed to adhere to “the spirit of rules prohibiting sexual harassment of and unwanted advances to House staffers.”
“Both women were uncomfortable with his behavior (which they attempted to communicate) but were put in an untenable position by virtue of his status as their boss and a Member of Congress,” the Ethics Committee said in its 25-page report. “Representative Edwards was at minimum blind to that reality, and at worst, dismissive of the impact his inappropriate conduct had on the careers and well-being of two women on his staff.”
One aide worked for the congressman’s office for about two-and-a-half years and the other for about three years. They no longer work there. The Ethics panel said they left due to conduct described in its report, although they provided other explanations to Edwards. […]
Now, for a wee bit of irony: TWO – count ’em – of Edwards’ colleagues from North Carolina sit on the House Ethics Committee. Deborah Ross (D) and Brad Knott (R). Both are attorneys. Knott is a former federal prosecutor.
Now, let’s look at this politically but on more of a macro-level.
One more Tillis-Shumaker mess. That’s disgraceful incumbent senator Thom Tillis and his political consultant Paul Shumaker. You may recall that Edwards was recruited by these two from the state senate for the purpose of knocking off incumbent Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn. Tillis and Cawthorn had exchanged unpleasant words publicly and Tillis wanted to settle the score by unemploying Cawthorn. A vicious primary campaign ensued -featuring a lot of attacks on Cawthorn for allegations about his personal life. The Edwards campaign famously told us all that voters would not have to worry about scandals with him in office.
Knocking off an incumbent over personal life scandals, and then losing a race based on some of your own. Talk about delicious irony.
So, now, we are about three months in front of Election Day with a Republican incumbent – installed by Tillis & Shumaker – in deep political doo-doo. It’s probably too late to pull Edwards out of the race. What I’d like to know, is who knew about this and how long has it been known? Edwards had a quality primary opponent. Trump swooped in and endorsed Edwards, thereby extinguishing that fire.
Let’s see — endorsing Edwards, Phil Berger, Mark Robinson, Mike Whatley, Laurie Buckhout, and Lynda Bennett.
Trump’s primary endorsements in North Carolina have been one huge hot mess, eh? (Oh, he endorsed Tillis in 2020. That allowed Tillis to hang around and torment Trump for the first two years of this term. So, we at this website have little sympathy for current White House whining about Tillis. We had a quality primary challenger lined up for him in 2020 and we told you how bad Thom was. )
We’re sure that McDowell kid in the 6th district is probably feeling a bit nervous. Lotsa bad luck going around for Trump endorsees in these parts, fella.
Currently, we have a 10-4 GOP to DEM split in the North Carolina congressional delegation. Trump got Berger to rework the congressional map so we could snatch one more from the DEMS (NC-01). Berger lost his primary, but it’s looking like NC-01 incumbent Democrat Don Davis may win in his gerrymandered district. With Edwards looking like a goner, the NCGOP could end up looking – at best – at a 9 to 5 split in the congressional delegation when the smoke clears in November. Not to mention, moving from a 2-0 split in the US Senate to a 1-1 split.
If this all does play out this way, *thank Shumaker, Tillis, and Trump.*
