A House GOP lawmaker, Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., is accused of sexually harassing two young female staffers in his office. An explosive report details lavish gifts, trips, and even reciting a poem for one of the aides in an incident that made others in his office uncomfortable.
House Ethics Committee Recommendation
The House Ethics Committee is recommending a censure for Rep. Edwards after an extensive probe found that he violated the House of Representatives’ code of conduct with repeated incidents targeting the two staffers. The committee found that Rep. Edwards engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards the two young female staffers, including providing them 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.
Rep. 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. Other allegations include that Rep. Edwards wrote poems for one of the staffers, including one that he read at her going away party in the congressional office accompanied by a slideshow, during which he cried.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
