The US State Department's inspector general has looked into complaints that the US ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa Scott Brown told a server at a diplomatic function that she should cash in on her good looks. 

"The State Department takes allegations of misconduct seriously, and we investigate them thoroughly," a state department official said to CNN.  "We hold all employees to the highest standard.  The Office of Inspector General has conducted an independent review of the allegations and reported its findings to the Department.  Senior leadership at the State Department has been in contact with Ambassador Brown and he has been counseled on standards of conduct for government employees, which also includes ambassadors."

This goes back to a Peace Corps reception in Samoa in June, where Brown and his wife were treated to Samoan dishes and a performance of a haka.  Brown told many of the people at the function that they looked beautiful, and he told one server in particular that back in the United States, she could make hundreds of dollars in the hospitality industry.

Fast forward to October, and the Fairfax news site Stuff contacted Brown about the comments.  He replied, "We saw these kids prior to and they were all dirty and kind of grungy."  Brown added, "Well, we walked (into the banquet) and everyone really was dressed to the nines.  They all looked great.  Gail looked great. I was dressed up.  I said, 'You guys look beautiful.  You look really handsome, sir.'  And apparently somebody took offense to that.  Fine.  I did say that.  Gail and I did say it."

He continued, "And when someone came over and served food, I said, 'You can make hundreds of dollars in the service industry.  Waitress.  Bartending.  Sales.  You guys are doing a great job.'  And somebody took offense to that, as well."

Brown believes the concern over his boneheaded remarks is politically motivated.  But critics note he has a history of making sexist remarks towards women.

The Boston Globe newspaper reported that during a 2012 election campaign in which he lost his US Senate Seat, Brown toured a brewery with Boston Herald reporter Hillary Chabot and invited her to taste a beer:  "Try this one.  I've seen you in the bars before, don't act like you've never been to a bar.  We're gonna have her dancing in the back of the truck."

In 2011, he debated the woman who would eventually take his job, Elizabeth Warren, and the moderator asked Brown about the time he posed nude for Cosmopolitan in 1982 to make money for college.  When asked how she paid for college, Warren replied, "I kept my clothes on".  Brown later said on a radio show, "Thank god."