Disgraced Republican Madison Cawthorn arrested in Florida
U.S. Congressman-elect Madison Cawthorn speaking with attendees at the 2020 Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, photo via Gage Skidmore.
Former North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn was arrested in Cape Coral, Florida Wednesday for failing to appear in court. He was released on $2,000 bond.
The 28-year-old was due to appear in court after he was cited by police in Naples for driving without a license on Aug. 19.
Cawthorn, who won election in 2020 at the age of 25, moved to Florida shortly after losing his GOP primary in 2022 after a series of scandals, including finding "himself in hot water with GOP leadership after making comments — without evidence — that linked his own party with cocaine use" and lurid activities.
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He was also cited in 2022 for traveling with a gun at a security checkpoint at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
This latest arrest comes a week after the 28-year-old former lawmaker was said to be preparing a run for Florida's 19th Congressional seat, according to Axios. That seat is currently occupied by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), who is leaving Congress to run for governor of Florida.
No stranger to traffic violations, Cawthorn was charged in 2022 for driving with a revoked license in North Carolina, stopped for several speeding tickets, and mocked for police footage in which he said was also unaware his father owned the car he was driving.
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