Madison Cawthorn, the disgraced former North Carolina congressman, was arrested in Lee County, Florida, on Sept. 10 after failing to appear in court on a citation for driving without a valid license, authorities and his representatives said.
Lee County Sheriff's Office records show Cawthorn was booked and released on a $2,000 bond. His representatives said the arrest stemmed from a "failure to appear for a routine traffic infraction" and attributed the no-show to a scheduling misunderstanding. "Madison keeps a very busy schedule and, due to a scheduling misunderstanding, did not appear in court this morning," his reps said. "Following processing Madison was immediately released."
The arrest occurred at Cawthorn's reported new home in Cape Coral and came days after media reports that he is preparing to launch a campaign for Florida's 19th Congressional District. Axios reported last week that Cawthorn is plotting a return to Congress after serving a single term representing North Carolina's 11th District.
Cawthorn, 28, rose rapidly in Republican circles during his 2021-2023 term but was dogged by controversies and unusually blunt public statements. During his term he made accusations that some colleagues had invited him to orgies and used illegal drugs in his presence; those claims were widely publicized and criticized. His term also featured other controversies that helped fuel his defeat in the 2022 Republican primary.
In 2024, Cawthorn was involved in a traffic incident in Collier County, Florida, in which he was accused of tailgating a woman and later rear-ending a Florida Highway Patrol officer. Local authorities said he did not face serious charges stemming from that incident. Cawthorn has used a wheelchair since he was partially paralyzed in a car crash at age 18.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office provided the booking-and-release information but did not immediately make additional comments about the traffic citation or the circumstances surrounding the missed court date. Cawthorn's representatives characterized the matter as a routine administrative issue and said it had been resolved quickly.
Cawthorn's potential run in Florida would mark a political comeback after his short and turbulent tenure in Washington, a period that saw him embrace high-profile conservative causes and cultivate ties with former President Donald Trump. His entry into Florida politics follows a trend of former federal lawmakers seeking new districts after leaving or losing seats in their home states.
Campaign filings, formal announcements or statements outlining Cawthorn's policy priorities for a Florida campaign had not been released publicly as of the arrest. It was not immediately clear whether the arrest or the underlying citation would have any legal implications for a future congressional bid.
Authorities did not indicate any additional charges beyond the failure-to-appear matter. The arrest record lists the incident as a routine processing event; Cawthorn was released following bond payment. His representatives declined to provide further comment beyond their explanation that the missed court appearance resulted from a scheduling misunderstanding.
As of Wednesday, local court records show the traffic citation remained the underlying matter tied to the booking. The development adds to Cawthorn's already high-profile and sometimes contentious public profile as he weighs a return to elected office in a new state.
