Related Stories“At the outset, it is important to emphasize that the Committee’s findings exonerate Representative Edwards under House Rules governing sexual misconduct or harassment,” said the attorneys, Stanley M. Brand and Andrew D. Herman. The Committee acknowledges that these scurrilous rumors of an affair or sexual misconduct were quickly disproved. However, the Committee continued its investigation into a long-standing working relationship and personal friendship between Representative Edwards and two female staffers which predated his tenure in the U.S. Congress. Certainly, the U.S. Congress, including the House Ethics Committee, is currently confronting this charged political environment along with rapidly shifting societal standards. Finally, Representative Edwards emphasizes that he has endeavored to comply with all applicable laws regarding his conduct during his time as a Member of Congress and before.