WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee recommended Monday that Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., be censured after finding that he engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female aides in his congressional office.
A censure registers the House's deep disapproval of a lawmaker's conduct that does not meet the threshold for expulsion.
Edwards, 65, has denied that any of his conduct was intended as a ******* ual or romantic advance, but the committee said his behavior would "lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such." It also described his actions as "beyond inappropriate."
The panel highlighted numerous examples of actions it considered improper, including Edwards providing the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, and sending notes regarding his affection.
The Ethics panel found no evidence Edwards explicitly propositioned any person under his employ or engaged in any ******* ual activity with them. But it also said he failed to adhere to "the spirit of rules prohibiting ******* ual harassment of and unwanted advances to House staffers."

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