Former North Carolina congressman Madison Cawthorn is back in the headlines, this time for an arrest in Florida that has reignited debate over his controversial political career and future ambitions. Early on September 10, 2025, police in Cape Coral, Florida, executed a warrant at Cawthorn’s home and took him into custody for failing to appear in court over a traffic-related charge. The incident, confirmed by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and widely reported by outlets including GulfCoastNewsNow, WLOS, and FOX Carolina, comes as rumors swirl about Cawthorn’s plans for a political comeback—this time, in the Sunshine State.
According to GulfCoastNewsNow, Cawthorn, 28, was cited on August 19, 2025, in Naples, Florida, for driving without a valid license. He was scheduled to appear at an arraignment in Collier County at 8:30 a.m. on September 10, but failed to show up. As a result, a warrant was issued for his arrest that same morning. Cape Coral Police arrived at his home and took him into custody. He was processed and released just over an hour later on a $2,000 bond, as confirmed by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and online court records.
Cawthorn’s representatives quickly issued a statement to Gulf Coast News after the arrest: “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.”
The charge at the heart of this latest legal trouble is driving while license was suspended or revoked—a misdemeanor in Florida, but one that can have serious consequences if court appearances are missed. This isn’t Cawthorn’s first brush with the law. In 2024, he was involved in a crash along Alligator Alley in Collier County, Florida, where he rear-ended a Florida State Trooper’s vehicle. According to FOX Carolina and GulfCoastNewsNow, the collision resulted in injuries to the trooper, though Cawthorn did not face serious charges from that incident.
Cawthorn’s time in the public eye began when he was elected at age 25 to represent North Carolina’s 11th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. His tenure, from 2021 to 2023, was marked by a string of controversies. He made national headlines with sensational claims that fellow lawmakers invited him to orgies and openly used cocaine in his presence—allegations that, according to AP and GulfCoastNewsNow, cost him support within his own party. He was also twice caught carrying a loaded gun into an airport, most recently in April 2022.
After serving just one term, Cawthorn lost his 2022 Republican primary to Chuck Edwards. Following his defeat, he relocated from western North Carolina to Florida. Since then, he’s been relatively quiet—at least until recent speculation emerged about his political future. Multiple outlets, including WLOS and GulfCoastNewsNow, have reported that Cawthorn is considering a run for Florida’s District 19 seat in Congress, currently held by Byron Donalds, who is said to be eyeing a gubernatorial bid. This would mark a shift for Cawthorn from representing North Carolina to attempting a comeback in Florida politics.
Cawthorn’s personal story has long been a part of his public persona. At age 18, he was partially paralyzed in a car accident, leaving him wheelchair-bound. His rapid rise in politics, youthful energy, and willingness to court controversy made him a darling of the MAGA movement and a frequent speaker at conservative events, such as the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, in 2021.
But his time in Congress was anything but smooth. According to AP and GulfCoastNewsNow, Cawthorn’s allegations about orgies and drug use in Washington, D.C., drew sharp rebukes from senior Republicans, including then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. The backlash was swift and public, with many in the GOP establishment distancing themselves from the young congressman. His defeat in the 2022 primary was widely seen as a repudiation by his own party.
After leaving office, Cawthorn’s legal troubles seemed to follow him. In addition to the current charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license and the 2024 crash involving a state trooper, his history includes the aforementioned loaded gun incidents at airports. While none of these incidents resulted in felony convictions, they have contributed to an image of a politician frequently at odds with the law.
Despite everything, Cawthorn appears undeterred. According to reports from WLOS and GulfCoastNewsNow, he is actively exploring a political comeback—this time in Florida. Some political observers see this as a test of whether a figure as polarizing as Cawthorn can reinvent himself in a new state, especially in a district that leans heavily Republican. Others question whether his legal troubles and history of controversy will prove too great a hurdle.
For his part, Cawthorn has maintained that his recent arrest was a misunderstanding. In his statement, he cited a “very busy schedule” and a “scheduling misunderstanding” as the reasons for missing his court date. But critics argue that repeated legal troubles suggest a broader pattern of disregard for rules and norms—an argument that dogged his first term in Congress and contributed to his 2022 defeat.
As the dust settles from his latest arrest, all eyes are on whether Cawthorn will formally announce his candidacy for Florida’s District 19 seat. If he does, the race is likely to draw national attention, with supporters and detractors alike eager to see whether he can stage a comeback or if his controversial past will continue to haunt him.
For now, the former congressman remains a lightning rod—admired by some for his willingness to challenge the establishment, criticized by others for his repeated legal and ethical lapses. Whether Florida voters are ready to give him a second chance remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Madison Cawthorn is not fading quietly from the political stage.
