An embattled House lawmaker creeped out his female subordinates by presenting them with unusual gifts, Axios reported on Monday.
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) "gave one staffer a blue handgun engraved with her name and the other staffer a pink handgun," said the report by Kate Santaliz. "A lawyer for one of the former staffers told Axios that she 'only awkwardly accepted the gift for fear of reprisal against her employment but later legally disposed of it because she did not want it in her possession.'"
Edwards, who is married, is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.
According to prior reports, Edwards propositioned a staffer for a dinner date, got rejected, and went on to tearfully read her a poem at her going-away party.
Another report indicated that he took trips with another staffer, who was uncomfortable about the whole thing, and showered her with gifts, including "a custom puzzle that, when assembled, revealed an image of actor Adam Sandler alongside a handwritten note inviting the staffer to attend one of Sandler's comedy shows with him."
Edwards represents the westernmost district of North Carolina, including Asheville, and first took office by defeating controversial Rep. Madison Cawthorn in a primary after most of the state GOP leadership turned against the latter.
