Ex-US Rep. Madison Cawthorn pays fine in guilty plea for having gun in airport
Former U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn said he’s glad the judge let him keep his gun after he pleaded guilty in a Mecklenburg County court room Friday to having a loaded firearm in his carry-on at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Judge Cecilia Oseguera ordered Cawthorn to pay a $250 fine on the misdemeanor charge of possession of a dangerous weapon on city property on April 26, 2022.
The judge denied a prosecutor’s request that Cawthorn relinquish the 9 millimeter handgun that Transportation Security Administration agents seized from his bag at Checkpoint D. The judge said she found nothing in the charge that requires a person to give up such a seized firearm.
Cawthorn, the former North Carolina congressman, flew in for the hearing from his home in Florida. He later told reporters outside the courthouse that he never realized the gun was in his carry-on and that he agrees no one should be allowed to take a firearm onto a plane.
“I always try to follow TSA guidelines,” he said. “I think everyone should abide (by them) for safe gun ownership.
“But I’m very happy and thankful that the judge gave a really clear ruling that sides with the law.” Cawthorn said. “And she was able to return the Staccato C2 to me, which is very good. Phenomenal firearm, if anybody’s looking for one. I highly recommend the Staccato. So very happy she imposed a fine, as she should have, and justice was doled out.”
Cawthorn, who lost his bid for re-election during the 2022 primary, also said he may run for elected office again someday, but has no definite plans.
“Plans are open,” he said. “I enjoy the position I’m in now. The world really is the oyster for the young. I think I’ll return to politics one day. I love the country too much to sit on the sidelines forever. You need to get involved in politics or be destined to be ruled by lesser men.”
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police cited Cawthorn after TSA agents found the gun and notified CMPD officers who are assigned to the airport, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
Police said they released Cawthorn and, for the time, confiscated the gun. CMPD called it standard procedure for airport division officers to cite and not arrest a passenger for the misdemeanor charge “unless there are other associated felony charges or extenuating circumstances.”
“Mr. Cawthorn stated that the firearm was his and he was cooperative with the CMPD officers,” CMPD said in a news release.
At the time, Cawthorn was a first-term GOP congressman representing North Carolina’s 11th District, which includes Asheville and much of western N.C. He was born in Buncombe County, home schooled in Hendersonville and attended Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia, according to his congressional bio.
At 26, he was the youngest member of Congress, elected to serve from January 2021 until January 2023.
After a series of scandals plagued his reelection campaign, Cawthorn lost his 2022 primary election and his seat in Congress.
Madison Cawthorn guns in airports
His arrest in Charlotte was the second instance where Cawthorn had been caught with a gun at an airport. In February 2021, Cawthorn tried to go through security with a gun at the Asheville airport.
Security there found a Glock 9 mm handgun and confiscated it from the congressman but allowed him to board the plane.
He’s also been accused of bringing knives to two school board meetings and, separately, two schools.
Cawthorn found himself in a myriad of controversies that led to North Carolina’s top Republicans supporting his opponent, state Sen. Chuck Edwards, in the primary. Those Republicans include U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, state Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore.
The controversies include driving while his license was revoked, claiming his colleagues on The Hill have participated in orgies and taken “key bumps of cocaine,” and most recently being labeled a hypocrite after vacation photos surfaced of him dressed in women’s lingerie while simultaneously speaking out against the transgender community.
Cawthorn’s comments on his colleagues caused Republican leaders such as Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to tell Cawthorn he had lost his trust and that consequences were possible, including stripping him of any committee assignments.
Edwards was elected to the seat formerly held by Cawthorn.
This story was originally published May 5, 2023 at 11:14 AM.