Ethics Committee Recommends Censure for Rep. Chuck Edwards Over 'Inappropriate Conduct'

Ethics Committee Recommends Censure for Rep. Chuck Edwards Over 'Inappropriate Conduct'
The House Ethics Committee recommended censuring Rep. Chuck Edwards on Monday, citing his alleged inappropriate relationships with staffers.
"The Committee concluded there was substantial reason to believe Representative Edwards violated House Rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces," the committee wrote in a press release about the North Carolina Republican.
The committee's report found that Edwards "engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers." Edwards has denied the alleged conduct "was intended as a sexual or romantic advance."
Edwards was aware that his conduct toward the staffers had generated discussion and "rumors" in his office, according to the committee's report.
"Representative Edwards also went beyond norms of professional behavior by giving both women lavish gifts," the committee wrote. "Both women received numerous gifts from Representative Edwards, including jewelry totaling over $1,000, designer purses, guns, shoes, flowers, a laptop and cell phone, KitchenAid mixer, robotic vacuum, vacations, tickets to performances, and one-on-one dinners."
One of the staffers said she felt "obligated to wear" a necklace Edwards gave her, and the congressman told her he was disappointed when she did not wear it.
Edwards, 65, has been married since 1980.
A censure serves as a public condemnation of a congress member's behavior. The committee will bring Edwards' censure for a vote by the full House.
This is the first time the Ethics Committee has recommended censure since it took action against former Rep. Charles Rangel (D-New York) in 2010 over improper fundraising, financial disclosures and failing to pay taxes.