House panel seeks censure of Rep. Chuck Edwards over staffer conduct
What's next: The House is in recess, so any floor censure vote would not come before September.
The House Ethics Committee recommended censuring Rep. Chuck Edwards, a North Carolina Republican, after finding he engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female staffers. In a 20-page report published Monday, the bipartisan panel said it found no evidence that Edwards propositioned the women or had sexual contact with them, but said he created a hostile work environment. Investigators cited gifts worth more than $1,000, comments about the staffers’ appearances, intimate dinners, vacations and affectionate notes. The inquiry included 16 witness interviews and more than 1,500 pages of evidence. Edwards’ lawyers argued the panel did not prove the staffers clearly expressed discomfort and said he regrets causing it.