Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) sent his colleagues a letter defending his gifts, poems, and compliments to female staffers, claiming his actions were misinterpreted as sexual harassment.

The House Ethics Committee handed down its recommendation that Edwards be censured earlier this month, and his peers are expected to vote on the suggestion in the coming days. The beleaguered congressman has denied the allegations, but he dropped his reelection bid following the committee’s release of its report that detailed his concerning behavior with female staffers.