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.
Edwards told Axios in a statement: "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."
- The House Ethics Committee declined to comment.
State of play: House Ethics probes can start via referrals from the Office of Congressional Conduct, which conducts its own investigative review before sending its findings to Ethics, according to the OCC's rules.
- The panel can also initiate an investigation on its own, or launch one based off of a formal complaint from a member or staffer.
- Ethics investigations typically take months, if not years, to complete.
The big picture: Ethics Committee probes can involve a wide range of issues, from compliance matters such as improper reimbursement practices to more serious misconduct.
- Three House members have resigned this month amid Ethics probes.
- The panel had been investigating all three members — Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) — but they all resigned before the panel had completed their process.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
