Madison Cawthorn pleads guilty after carrying loaded gun into airport

05 May 2023

Former North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn has reached a plea deal in connection to the case involving the loaded gun he attempted to bring through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint inside of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

According to CNN, the former lawmaker's attorney released a statement confirming his client's guilty plea for "the third-degree misdemeanor charge of possession of a dangerous weapon on city property."

“Mr. Cawthorn accepted responsibility for this mistake. Law enforcement noted his cooperative attitude at every step. He chose to resolve this case in a manner that would ensure his uninterrupted right to possess a firearm. He remains staunchly committed to responsible gun ownership,” Owen added.

The guilty plea was announced on Friday, May 5, which was initially the date Cawthorn's trial was set to begin.

According to a report released by the Asheville Citizen-Times, the incident occurred back in April 2022, marking the second time the lawmaker was stopped for carrying a firearm inside of an airport location.

In February 2021, Asheville Regional Airport agents discovered a firearm in Cawthorn's carry-on bag. At the time, the newspaper reported that the lawmaker's weapon was “secured at the airport and he retrieved it after his flight.”

The first incident was ultimately deemed a mistake and Cawthorn did not face charges for it.

Cawthorn had a short stint as a Republican lawmaker after being elected in 2020. Despite having the support of former President Donald Trump, Cawthorn did not manage to win his bid for re-election.

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