The House of Representatives voted 413-2 on Tuesday to censure Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican from North Carolina, following a House Ethics Committee investigation that found substantial reason to believe he violated rules against sexual harassment and hostile workplaces.

The bipartisan Ethics Committee released its report on August 3, recommending the censure after determining that Edwards engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female staffers in his office. The panel described the behavior as beyond inappropriate and noted it would lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as sexual or romantic in nature.

Specific findings included repeated comments on the women's appearance and dress, invitations to intimate dinners and vacations, notes expressing affection, and gifts valued at thousands of dollars. These gifts encompassed jewelry, designer purses, guns, shoes, flowers, a laptop, a cellphone, a KitchenAid mixer, tickets to performances, and one-on-one dinners. Investigators found both women were uncomfortable with the conduct but felt constrained by Edwards' position as their boss and a member of Congress.

Edwards, 65, has denied that his actions constituted sexual harassment or romantic advances, though he acknowledged some behavior could be viewed as inappropriate. He dropped his reelection bid shortly after the Ethics Committee report and sent colleagues a 22-page letter last week urging them not to support censure. On the House floor Tuesday, he apologized to the staffers for putting them in an uncomfortable position but maintained that regret did not equate to an admission of harassment.

Only Edwards and Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., voted against the resolution. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., read the censure aloud after the vote, requiring Edwards to stand in the well of the chamber. The action marks the first time the Ethics Committee has recommended censure for a member since 2010.

Edwards will complete his current term representing North Carolina's 11th district.