ASHEVILLE, N.C. — U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) and a local Rotary official are offering conflicting accounts of a confrontation that occurred Saturday night during a Rotary District 7670 conference in downtown Asheville.
According to Edwards, he was the target of an intoxicated individual’s belligerence following his scheduled speech at the event. However, a Rotarian who helped organize the conference, Guy Gooder, says Edwards appeared to be the aggressor in an altercation that followed remarks some attendees found controversial.
Gooder, a graphic designer from Franklin and a sponsor of the event, said he did not directly witness the alleged physical contact but heard Edwards strike a seated attendee with a clipboard as he exited the conference room. Gooder stated that Edwards’ body blocked his view at the time of the incident. He added that the two men then left the room while continuing their exchange.
As of Monday, Edwards’ office had not returned a phone call seeking comment. Edwards did release a statement Sunday, following inquiries from McClatchy and confirmation from the Asheville Police Department that officers responded to a disturbance at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, the site of the conference.
In his statement, Edwards said, “I refused to engage with an intoxicated man that was cursing. He became more belligerent and later called the police. His behavior was embarrassing to the people at the event and was duly noted by the police.”
The Asheville Police Department confirmed that no arrests were made and no injuries were reported. A full police report has not yet been released. McClatchy has requested both the 911 call and the finalized report.
Gooder, who serves on the Franklin Tourism Development Authority board and is registered as an unaffiliated voter, disputes Edwards’ characterization of the other man involved. He said the individual was not belligerent and that such behavior would be quickly addressed in a Rotary setting, where members are expected to set aside political differences.
The disagreement stemmed in part from Edwards’ speech, which Gooder said diverged from the nonpartisan tone expected at Rotary events. While the congressman had been invited to speak about recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene—similar to remarks the night before by Buncombe County Commission Chair Amanda Edwards—Gooder said Edwards used much of his address to defend former President Donald Trump’s policies, including federal agency budget cuts and tariffs.
Gooder said Edwards’ comments were critical of agencies like the State Department and the World Health Organization, both of which Rotary partners with on global health initiatives such as polio eradication. He described the speech as insulting to the intelligence and mission of many in the room.
According to Gooder, the confrontation occurred as Edwards walked down the center aisle after his speech. A seated attendee allegedly criticized Edwards’ remarks, prompting the congressman to stop and respond. That exchange escalated, with Gooder stating that Edwards then struck the man with a clipboard.
The man allegedly involved in the altercation declined to comment when contacted by McClatchy, citing an ongoing conversation with a police detective and efforts to reach a resolution.
Following the incident, police vehicles were visible outside the venue, and organizers addressed the situation onstage, offering apologies to attendees. Gooder, while critical of the decision to invite Edwards, said he appreciated the acknowledgment.
As of late Monday, no further information had been provided by the Asheville Police Department or Edwards’ staff. The Rotary District has not released an official statement regarding the incident.
