North Carolina congressman exits McDonald's ownership after decades
Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., announces he and his wife, Teresa, have sold the McDonald's restaurant business they spent decades building, allowing him to dedicate more of his time to representing western North Carolina in Congress. (This video contains AI-assisted content.)
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., announced early on Wednesday morning that he was dropping his re-election bid.
"After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. I will complete my current term. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America," Edwards noted in a post on X that was published at 3:32 a.m. ET.
The announcement came two days after the House Ethics Committee released a report recommending Edwards' censure.
GOP LAWMAKER'S GIFTS, 'EFFUSIVE AFFECTION' TOWARD YOUNG STAFFERS DETAILED IN EXPLOSIVE ETHICS REPORT
Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., departs from a House Republican Conference meeting in the U.S. Capitol on July 21, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to Edwards' congressional office and campaign on Wednesday morning.
Edwards has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2023.
He decisively won the GOP primary in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District earlier this year.
'MCDONALD'S CHANGED THE COURSE OF MY LIFE': CONGRESSMAN SELLS BUSINESS HE BUILT SINCE HIS TEEN YEARS
The sun sets behind the U.S. Capitol on a hot and humid evening on Aug. 4, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
But on Monday, the House Committee on Ethics issued a report finding Edwards "engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers."
While Edwards "denied that any of his conduct was intended as a sexual or romantic advance, his pattern of behavior would lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such, including providing the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, sending notes regarding his effusive affection, and inviting them to other activities as a way to spend time together," the report says.
The committee said it found "no evidence that Representative Edwards engaged in sexual activity with or explicitly propositioned any individual under his employ."
Edwards "was aware, however, that his excessive attention toward the young women had led to rumors and innuendo in the office," the report says. "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. Representative Edwards was at minimum blind to that reality, and at worst, dismissive of the impact his inappropriate conduct had on the careers and wellbeing of two women on his staff."
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WELCOMES HOUSE ETHICS PROBE INTO SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM
Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., leaves the Capitol Hill Club after a meeting of the House Republican Conference on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
"The Committee hereby adopts this Report in this matter and recommends Representative Edwards be censured for his conduct," the document noted.
Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.
