GOP lawmaker's gifts, 'effusive affection' toward young staffers detailed in explosive ethics report

A House GOP lawmaker is accused of sexually harassing two "young female staffers" in his office in an explosive report that details lavish gifts, trips, and even reciting a poem for one of the aides in an incident that made others in his office uncomfortable.

The House Ethics Committee is recommending a censure for Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., after an extensive probe found that he violated the House of Representatives' code of conduct with repeated incidents targeting the two staffers.

"Specifically, the Committee found that Representative Edwards engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers. While Representative Edwards denied that any of his conduct was intended as a sexual or romantic advance, his pattern of behavior would lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such, including providing the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, sending notes regarding his effusive affection, and inviting them to other activities as a way to spend time together," the report said.

The committee also said Edwards sought to cooperate with the panel, but that some messages deemed relevant to the probe were "omitted and/or seemingly deleted from his phone."

"An example of Representative Edwards’ unprofessional conduct was commenting on the two women’s appearance in the congressional office, telling them when they looked 'pretty' or 'breathtaking,' and even remarking on one staffer’s weight," the report said.

Edwards told the committee he only commented on staffers' clothing and said "it’s almost an insult if you don’t make some comment about [one another’s clothing]," according to the report.

Other allegations include that Edwards "wrote poems for Staffer 2, including one that he read at her going away party in the congressional office accompanied by a slideshow, during which he cried."

"Several staffers present testified that they felt uncomfortable, and Representative Edwards acknowledged in his own testimony that he could tell the staff felt uncomfortable," the report said.

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