Депутат Конгресса Чак Эдвардс может нарушить правила из-за незадекларированной поездки в Африку

US Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-NC11, may not have followed proper procedures, including filing the required paperwork and obtaining permission, regarding an August 2025 trip to Africa, according to the Raleigh News & Observer (N&O). According to House Rules, members of Congress must seek approval from the House Ethics Committee at least 30 days before traveling at the expense of private groups. Lawmakers must disclose both the travelers and the sponsor according to House Rules. The committee rarely grants retroactive approval requests, and House members who fail to seek prior approval must repay the sponsor. From Aug. 15-24, 2025, Edwards traveled to Pretoria, South Africa, and Kruger National Park. Ethics forms filed by three other congressional members on the trip indicate the trip was funded by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, according to the N&O. Edwards did disclose the trip in a financial disclosure report on Aug. 12, reported N&O. The report indicated that the International Conservation Caucus Foundation funded the trip. US Reps. August Pfluger, R-TX11; David Joyce, R-OH14; and Morgan Luttrell, R-TX8, each brought a family member and requested prior approval from the committee and submitted the required post-travel documentation, as required by House Rules, according to N&O. “This appears to be a paperwork mistake rather than corruption. Edwards’ office reported the trip, but it used a Financial Disclosure Report rather than a Traveler Form, as required by congressional travel regulations,” Andy Jackson, director of the Civitas Center for Public Integrity at the John Locke Foundation, told the Carolina Journal. “The House Ethics Committee approved travel for legislators who filed the proper paperwork for the same trip, so there was no ethical issue with the trip itself. There is no excuse for legislators not following ethics rules, however.” This comes on the heels of a trip to Las Vegas with a staffer where campaign money was potentially misused to pay for expenses. Earlier reports indicated that text messages between Edwards and his staffer, which the committee released, indicate the timing when Edwards booked the flights to Vegas. According to the News & Observer, the dates match recorded flights listed in his campaign finance reports. Text messages include screenshots showing a 7am flight from Raleigh/Durham Airport to Las Vegas, Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), on Nov. 9, and a return flight departing from LAS at 10pm on Nov. 11. On Aug. 3, Edwards was found in violation of the House Code of Official Conduct by the House Ethics Committee, regarding the prohibition of sexual harassment. In May, Axios first reported allegations that Edwards vacationed with one of his female staffers in Las Vegas after she had left his office. Receipts obtained by Axios indicate that Edwards booked two rooms at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas from Nov. 8-11. On Aug. 4 at 3:32am, Edwards announced in an X post that he would not be seeking re-election in the upcoming November midterms. In his place, state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, R-Henderson, has been tapped by Republicans as the GOP nominee to run in the 11th Congressional District against Democrat Jamie Ager. On Aug. 17, President Donald Trump recently endorsed Balkcom in a Truth Social post.