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Madison Cawthorn arrested in Florida

The controversial former congressman was arrested at his home earlier this week

Nights and Weekends Editor

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Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., arrives for the House Republicans leadership elections in the Capitol Visitor Center on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., arrives for the House Republicans leadership elections in the Capitol Visitor Center on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Former North Carolina congressman Madison Cawthorn was arrested at his home in Cape Coral, Florida, on Wednesday.

Cawthorn failed to appear for a hearing this week related to a citation for driving on a suspended license, Collier County court records viewed by Salon show. A warrant was issued for his arrest after the hearing. Cawthorn has since been released on a $2,000 bond.

Cawthorn shared a statement with Gulf Coast News, blaming his “very busy schedule” for the missed court date.

“Madison keeps a very busy schedule and, due to a scheduling misunderstanding, did not appear in court this morning,” they shared. “Following processing, Madison was immediately released.”

The young alt-right representative was ushered into the House along with a wave of trolling, post-Trump loudmouths. He didn’t have the staying power of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene or Lauren Boebert, however, serving one controversy-filled term in Congress before being ousted in his district’s Republican primary.


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Cawthorn’s stint generated numerous scandals, from trying to bring a gun through an airport to claiming Washington, D.C.’s power players were holding cocaine-fueled orgies. Cawthorn’s rep suffered greatly, and many members of his own party campaigned against him when he attempted to retake his seat.

He moved to Florida following his election loss. Axios reported last week that he is openly considering a congressional run in the Sunshine State.

By Alex Galbraith

Alex Galbraith is Salon's nights and weekends editor, and author of our free daily newsletter, Crash Course. He is based in New Orleans.


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