Former Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) was arrested Wednesday in Florida after failing to appear in court for a traffic citation, just days after reports suggested he may seek a return to Congress.
The 28-year-old, who served a single term in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, faces renewed scrutiny as he considers running for Florida’s 19th District.
Authorities confirmed Cawthorn was taken into custody at his Cape Coral residence following the missed court date tied to a driving violation from last month.
He was released on a $2,000 bond, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office described the process as routine.
A spokesperson for Cawthorn attributed the absence to a scheduling misunderstanding.
“Former Congressman Madison Cawthorn was arrested earlier today for failure to appear for a routine traffic infraction,” the statement read. “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’s arrest comes as he eyes a political comeback in Florida, a state where the 19th Congressional District will soon be open as current Republican Rep. Byron Donalds pursues the governor’s office.
Sources told Axios last week that he is actively planning a return to