A POLITICAL comeback for Madison Cawthorn hit an embarrassing snag this week when the former congressman was arrested in Florida.
The 30-year-old Republican was taken into custody at his Cape Coral home early Wednesday by Lee County deputies.
Ex-congressman Madison Cawthorn was arrested in Florida after missing a court hearing (stock)[/caption]
Cawthorn’s political career has been marked by controversies[/caption]
Cawthorn was booked and released within hours on $2,000 bond[/caption]
The arrest stemmed from a missed court appearance in Collier County.
Cawthorn had failed to show up for an 8:30 am hearing tied to an August traffic stop in Naples.
He was cited for driving without a valid license during that stop.
Authorities issued an out-of-county warrant when he failed to appear for the hearing.
Cawthorn was booked and released within hours on $2,000 bond.
Police confirmed they had knocked on his door before taking him into custody.
The arrest comes less than 24 hours after he met with Republican lawmaker on Capitol Hill.
His mugshot, released following Wednesday’s arrest, shows a somber expression amid his attempted political revival.
Axios reported Cawthorn was discussing plans to run for Congress in Florida’s 19th District.
The seat is being vacated by Republican Byron Donalds, who is running for governor.
Cawthorn has privately confirmed to several Republicans his intention to launch a campaign.
The Daily Mail described the move as a prominent return to the national political stage.
The Florida district includes parts of southwest Florida, including Fort Myers and Naples.
So far, five Republicans have filed paperwork to run in the district, with more expected.
Madison Cawthorn: Major Controversies
- March 2022 – Charged with driving with a revoked license in North Carolina; also faced two speeding citations.
- March 2022 – Made unsubstantiated claims on a podcast about orgies and cocaine use by Capitol colleagues.
- March 2022 – Called Ukrainian President a “thug” and suggested Nancy Pelosi was an alcoholic.
- April 2022 – Faced allegations of insider trading.
- April 2022 – Stopped by airport security for trying to bring a gun on a plane.
- May 2022 – Pictures surfaced of shuttered district offices; leaked salacious images and videos emerged.
- Multiple instances – Accusations of sexual harassment; involvement in January 6 insurrection; alarming social media and House floor provocations.
- 2024 – Rear-ended Florida State Trooper in Collier County; no serious charges.
- Aug 19, 2025 – Cited for driving without a valid license in Naples, Florida.
- Sept 10, 2025 – Arrested in Cape Coral for missing court over the traffic citation; released on $2,000 bond.
Cawthorn’s team called the arrest a clerical mishap, insisting it does not indicate larger issues.
This is not Cawthorn’s first run-in with Florida authorities.
In 2024, he was involved in a rear-end collision with a Florida State Trooper along Alligator Alley in Collier County.
That incident made headlines but did not result in serious charges.
Cawthorn first gained fame in 2020, becoming the youngest member of Congress in over 200 years at just 25.
Backed by Donald Trump, he represented North Carolina’s 11th District for a single term.
A series of personal scandals and conflicts within the party cost him reelection.
Despite Trump’s endorsement, Cawthorn lost his seat to Republican Chuck Edwards.
After his defeat, he moved to Florida and mostly disappeared from national politics.
The 19th District offers fertile ground for a conservative candidate in the 2026 midterms.
Backed by Donald Trump, he represented North Carolina’s 11th District for a single term[/caption]
