Teresa Leger Fernandez

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 8 wordsI thank the chairman for yielding me time.Thanks Positioning · 12 wordsChuck Edwards’ behavior over the past 2 years is disgusting and horrible.Positioning Claims · 71 wordsThe sexual harassment of two young women on his staff and his abhorrent abuse of power is outlandish and disturbing. He not only threatened the careers and safety of his staff with his behavior, but he broke the promise he made to Americans to act with dignity and integrity. Since he continues to show no remorse, it is obvious that Edwards refuses to understand sexual harassment or his abuse of power.Unearned certainty Reasoning · 16 wordsIf we don’t take action today, there is no opportunity for these women to receive justice. Mr. Speaker, The ask · 7 wordsevery Member must vote to censure him. Claims · 106 wordsOver the course of these 2 years, he sent two young women on his staff mountains of expensive gifts, including designer purses, personalized handguns, ¹and jewelry. He took them on intimate dinners, trips, and sent them late-night messages, despite the women making it clear they were uncomfortable. He even skipped votes.² He skipped votes to decorate one of the staffer’s Christmas tree.³ One of the staff, as we heard, essentially said she feared retaliation.⁴ When she said: ``I worry about having somebody with that power against me,’’ that is fear of retaliation.⁵ Not only did he disrespect these women, he disregarded his duties to his constituents. Reasoning · 25 wordsFor him, decorating a Christmas tree was more important than showing up to the vote, as his constituents expected when they sent him to Congress. Claims · 75 wordsEven after this investigation, he continues to deny that this behavior was harassment.⁶ I basically do not see any remorse in his 22 pages or what he spoke today.⁷ Those 22 pages are basically a rant defending his actions. He is someone who fails to see how what he has done has negatively impacted the lives and careers of these two young women. Because of Mr. Edwards’ harassment, these two women don’t work here anymore.⁸ Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 26 wordsI thank the Committee on Ethics. I thank them for their thorough and efficient investigation. I thank the chair and the ranking member for their work.Thanks Claims · 25 wordsWithout their investigation, we may never have known that Edwards spent years sexually harassing two young women on his staff.⁹ This is textbook sexual harassment, Reasoning · 24 wordsand Congress must take action; but I say that the penalty should match the harassment. The precedent of censure, I believe, is not enough. Claims · 10 wordsThese women lost their jobs because of Mr. Edwards’ behavior. The ask · 4 wordsHe should lose his. Promise · 44 wordsIt is time we reform the rules in Congress so abusers like Edwards are at least stripped of committee assignments or expelled if the offense calls for it--after an investigation and after a vote of the full floor--which is what we are doing today, Vague promiseReasoning · 37 wordsbecause serving in Congress is a privilege and not an honor. It is not a right. The American people continue to expect us to act with dignity, and if that trust is broken, there must be accountability.Vague promise Promise · 24 wordsWe need to protect women in the House from retaliation and make sure that the men who abuse their power face real, substantive consequences.Vague promise Claims · 44 wordsThat is exactly why the Democratic Women’s Caucus, together with the GOP Women’s Caucus, has been working to end the widespread problem of sexual misconduct on the Hill.¹⁰ We are fighting to make Congress a place where our staffers feel safe coming to work.Off pointVague promise Mr. Speaker, The ask · 9 wordsI urge my colleagues to vote for the censure.