GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards rebuked by House over allegations of unwanted advances toward female staffers - CNN

The U.S. House voted Tuesday to formally rebuke Rep. Chuck Edwards, a North Carolina Republican, after a monthslong investigation found he made unwanted advances toward two female staffers who quit his office because of his behavior.

The rebuke is the most severe punishment Congress can hand a sitting member short of expulsion. It carries no explicit penalties and does not remove Edwards from the House, but the public admonition is rare enough that it marks a significant moment in how the chamber handles misconduct by its own.

Edwards had already been pushed out of his reelection race before Tuesday's vote, with GOP leaders pressing him to step aside. The formal rebuke came on top of that, following a report into his conduct toward the two women.

For people watching Congress from Lubbock, the vote is a reminder that the House does have a formal process for disciplining members, even if the outcome stops well short of removal. Critics will note that Edwards keeps his seat and his salary through the end of his term, while the two staffers who reported his behavior no longer work there.

The House has expelled only five of its members in its entire history, which puts Tuesday's rebuke in perspective.