Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) gave two young female staffers each a personalized handgun as a present while they worked in his office in 2024, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the gifts.Why it matters: The guns, and a surprise musical performance organized by the congressman, are additional examples of Edwards allegedly singling out the young female staffers for unusually personal attention, conduct that is now at the center of a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. Edwards gave one staffer a blue handgun engraved with her name and the other staffer a pink handgun. Both gifts occurred in North Carolina.
A lawyer for one of the former staffers told Axios that she "only awkwardly accepted the gift for fear of reprisal against her employment but later legally disposed of it because she did not want it in her possession."A member buying gifts for staffers is not explicitly against House rules.Edwards was a licensed firearms dealer until November 2024. He previously owned a firearms business called Second Amendment Gun Traders in Hendersonville, North Carolina.He touts an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association on his campaign website. In a statement to Axios, Edwards said: "I have taught several staff members to shoot and handle weapons, and in some cases, I provided them with their own.
Before being elected to Congress, I was a licensed firearm dealer. I'm a strong believer in teaching men and women about firearm safety and self-defense. Firearms are useful tools for home and self-defense when held by law-abiding citizens."Three sources told Axios that they had never seen or heard of Edwards giving other staffers firearms or teaching other staffers how to use a firearm.
Axios has previously reported that Edwards singled out the two young female staffers in their 20s for attention that multiple sources described as inappropriate, including handwritten correspondence, personal gifts, drinking outings, casino trips and promotions.The congressman has denied wrongdoing in response to Axios' previous reporting about his alleged misconduct.One of the former staffers declined to discuss her interactions with Edwards when contacted by Axios. Axios will not name the staffers due to the sensitive nature of the allegations.Edwards also arranged a surprise musical performance duri…
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