The House has censured Rep. Chuck Edwards after an Ethics Committee investigation concluded he engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female staffers in his office. The 413-2 vote is the latest example of Congress grappling with revelations about lawmakers’ improper behavior toward female staffers. Edwards is a North Carolina Republican. He apologized to the former aides and his family but he also said he did not believe he committed sexual harassment. Rep. Michael Guest, chairman of the House Ethics Committee, says that while Edwards denied his conduct was intended to be sexual or romantic, his pattern of behavior would lead a reasonable person to interpret it as such.

The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch has been ruled mentally competent to stand trial for alleged sex trafficking after being hospitalized for months for dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms. U.S. District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury ruled Thursday that Michael Jeffries “clearly possesses a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings” and is a “reasonably intelligent person and skilled communicator.” The Long Island judge said she reviewed testimony and written reports from medical experts and listened to hours of phone calls Jeffries made while detained at a federal prison hospital in North Carolina.  Jeffries' lawyers didn't immediately comment.