Ex-North Carolina Rep. Cawthorn arrested after reports of him potentially running for office again

Former North Carolina GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn was arrested in Florida days after reports of him potentially running for office again. 

Cawthorn was arrested Wednesday for failing to appear in court over a citation of driving with an invalid license last month. 

His representatives confirmed he was arrested for "failure to appear for a routine traffic infraction," according to the New York Post.

“Madison keeps a very busy schedule and, due to a scheduling misunderstanding, did not appear in court this morning,” his reps said in a statement. 

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said Cawthorn was released on a $2,000 bond. 

Sources told Axios last week that Cawthorn is planning to run for Florida's 19th Congressional District seat. The seat will be open as current Rep. Byron Donalds is planning to run for governor. 

In 2020, Cawthorn won a special election in North Carolina and became the youngest GOP House member when he won the general election.

He ended up losing the primary election in 2022 due to scandals. In 2022, photos emerged of the lawmaker wearing lingerie and drinking alcohol while surrounded by women. He also made statements indicating that rampant drug use and illicit sexual interactions were commonplace in the nation's capital.