Ex-Rep Madison Cawthorn Arrested Florida Court No-Show Amid Comeback Plans

Madison Cawthorn, the 28-year-old former Republican representative from North Carolina, was arrested in Cape Coral, Florida, for failing to appear in court over a traffic citation for driving without a valid license. The arrest occurred shortly after Cawthorn met with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss his planned political comeback by running for Florida's 19th Congressional District, a seat soon to be vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds. Cawthorn was booked and released on a $2,000 bond, with his team describing the missed court appearance as a scheduling misunderstanding. His controversial past includes accusations of tailgating a woman, a 2024 collision with a Florida Highway Patrol officer, and various scandals during his single term in Congress. Despite his legal troubles, Cawthorn remains a wildcard contender backed by a loyal MAGA base and aims to upend the establishment in a highly competitive GOP primary. His team maintains that the recent arrest does not indicate deeper issues and was merely a clerical mishap.