Former Rep. Madison Cawthorn was arrested Wednesday in Florida after failing to appear for an 8:30 a.m. arraignment in Collier County on a misdemeanor traffic charge, authorities and court records said.
The arrest followed a warrant issued when Cawthorn did not show up for the hearing in a case stemming from a citation in August for driving with a suspended license, according to the Collier County Clerk of Courts. Naples police issued the original citation, and Lee County Sheriff’s Office records show Cawthorn was processed and released on a $2,000 bond.
Cawthorn told Gulf Coast News that he was arrested at his Cape Coral home and described the matter as a scheduling misunderstanding. In a statement the former congressman shared with the outlet, he said, “Former Congressman, Madison Cawthorn, was arrested earlier today for failure to appear for a routine traffic infraction. Madison keeps a very busy schedule and, due to a scheduling misunderstanding, did not appear in court this morning. Following processing Madison was immediately released.”
Cawthorn, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, lost his North Carolina reelection bid in 2022 and has been the subject of persistent media attention for legal and ethical controversies. He has been mentioned in news reports as considering a run in Florida’s 19th Congressional District, a potential comeback that has drawn renewed scrutiny.
Among the incidents that have drawn public and official attention, Cawthorn was investigated in 2022 by the House Ethics Committee for an alleged improper relationship with a staffer. The committee also found he financially benefited from promoting a cryptocurrency tied to the conservative chant “Let’s Go Brandon,” and he was ordered to pay more than $14,000 to charity after the finding that the activity violated congressional conflict-of-interest rules.
Law-enforcement encounters and travel-related firearms incidents have also punctuated Cawthorn’s post-congressional profile. Reports say he attempted to board a flight in 2021 at Asheville Regional Airport with an unloaded gun and in a separate episode left a loaded firearm in carry-on luggage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport; he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from the latter incident in 2023. Local reporting also says Cawthorn was accused of rear-ending a state trooper’s vehicle in Collier County in a crash that reportedly caused roughly $30,000 in damage.
Cawthorn attracted further controversy for public remarks and actions before and after his term, including an acknowledged trip to a historic site associated with Adolf Hitler and public statements about being armed at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Those episodes contributed to his polarizing profile during and after his tenure in Congress.
The misdemeanor citation that prompted Wednesday’s arraignment and subsequent warrant reflects one of several smaller legal matters that have followed Cawthorn since leaving office. Court records do not indicate any new felony charges connected to Wednesday’s arrest. Collier County court dockets will reflect the next scheduled appearance in the misdemeanor case.
Representatives for Cawthorn did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment. Local law enforcement released only basic booking and bond information. The arrest comes as Cawthorn faces continued public scrutiny over his actions and as speculation continues about whether he will seek elected office again in Florida.