Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) dropped his reelection bid after a House ethics panel found he had repeatedly visited a female staffer's home and lavished her with unsolicited gifts and attention. "After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign," Edwards wrote on X early Wednesday morning. The panel recommended the full House censure Edwards, one of the most severe punishments Congress can impose short of expulsion. Edwards texted her the day before: he would "skip votes and help you decorate your tree once you get home tomorrow." Both staffers eventually left his office because of his conduct, though each had considered longer congressional careers, the report found.