Rep. Chuck Edwards Gifted Personalized Handguns to Female Staffers Amid Ethics Probe
Representative Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) reportedly gifted personalized handguns to two young female staffers in 2024 while they were employed in his office. These gifts, which included a blue handgun engraved with one staffer's name and a pink one for the other, are among several instances of what sources describe as unusually personal attention from the congressman. The House Ethics Committee is currently investigating allegations of sexual harassment and the creation of a hostile work environment related to Edwards' conduct. One former staffer's lawyer indicated she accepted the gift under duress, later disposing of it. Edwards, a former licensed firearms dealer, stated he has taught and provided firearms to staff, believing in self-defense education. However, multiple sources denied witnessing him gift firearms or teach other staffers. The ongoing investigation could impact Edwards' re-election prospects, especially as his district is a key target for Democrats.
U.S. Representative Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) reportedly gave personalized handguns to two young female staffers in 2024 during their employment in his office. According to two sources with direct knowledge, one staffer received a blue handgun engraved with her name, while another received a pink handgun. Both gifts occurred in North Carolina.
A lawyer for one of the former staffers stated 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." While buying gifts for staffers is not explicitly against House rules, these instances are cited as examples of Edwards allegedly providing unusually personal attention to young female staffers.
This conduct is central to an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged sexual harassment and the creation of a hostile work environment. Edwards has denied wrongdoing in response to previous reports regarding his alleged misconduct.
Edwards, who was a licensed firearms dealer until November 2024 and previously owned Second Amendment Gun Traders, stated, "I have taught several staff members to shoot and handle weapons, and in some cases, I provided them with their own." He added, "I'm a strong believer in teaching men and women about firearm safety and self-defense." However, three sources told Axios they had not seen or heard of Edwards giving other staffers firearms or teaching them how to use them.
Other instances of alleged personal attention include Edwards organizing a surprise musical performance of Ed Sheeran songs for one staffer's birthday in Washington, D.C., in spring 2025. Sources described the staffer as embarrassed by the surprise, which Edwards coordinated through a friend he met during a hospital visit to the staffer for appendicitis. Edwards did not attend the party. Previously, Edwards also reportedly left Capitol Hill during the workday to visit the staffer in the hospital.
Further allegations detail Edwards reading a flattering, teary-eyed poem aloud at one staffer's going-away party and sending a three-page handwritten letter stating she had "written a complex chapter in my heart." He also reportedly gave a staffer a custom Adam Sandler puzzle with an invitation to attend a comedy show. After one staffer left his office, Edwards allegedly vacationed with her in Las Vegas during the Fall 2025 government shutdown, where he arranged for flowers to be in her hotel room, a gesture the staffer reportedly found uncomfortable. Text messages and sources confirm a staffer complained about his behavior and feared retaliation.
The ethics investigation could potentially complicate Edwards' re-election campaign. His western North Carolina district is a key target for Democrats, with his challenger, Jamie Ager, outraising him by approximately $1.3 million in the latest fundraising quarter. Edwards and his wife recently announced the sale of their McDonald's franchises, citing a desire to focus more on public service. Edwards has also removed references to President Trump from his campaign website.
According to Axios, Edwards did not answer a question about the musical performance he allegedly organized. (Source: Axios)
