House Ethics Committee Opens Investigation Into Madison Cawthorn

The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R. Georgia), a freshman legislator who has been involved with many scandals since he was first elected to office in early last year.

Cawthorn, the committee said in its report, may have violated ethics rules on financial dealings — specifically by “improperly promot[ing] a cryptocurrency in which he may have had an undisclosed financial interest” — as well as engaging in “an improper relationship with an individual employed on his congressional staff.”

Every Democrat on the committee was represented by a Republican, in rare bipartisan unanimity. voted to initiate the investigation into Cawthorn.

The committee met earlier in the month to discuss several misdemeanor cases that Cawthorn has been facing in the past. These include speeding and driving without license. Members of the Committee voted against pursuing those mattersIt is part of its inquiry.

Cawthorn was adamant about the investigation’s announcement on social media. “Wow, I must still be a problem for the swamp! They’re still coming after me!” he said on Twitter.

Despite his dismissive attitude towards the investigation, the committee’s action is just one of a series of mishaps and misfortunes that have plagued the freshman Republican, whose political fortunes seem to be declining.

Last week, Cawthorn lost his primary to Republican challenger Chuck Edwards, a three-term senator from the state.

He was twice caught bringing a loaded gun through airport security in the same time period. After Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an invasion of Ukraine, this year he was caught bringing a loaded gun through airport security. Cawthorn was captured on camera describing Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “thug,” commentary that earned him the ire of some of his fellow party members. He also upset many in GOP by suggesting that D.C. insiders had invited his to sex parties after being sworn into office.

Cawthorn was also involved with events that preceded the attack against the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. During a “Stop the Steal” speech in front of the White House on that morning, the North Carolina lawmaker implored loyalists of former President Donald Trump (many of whom eventually took part in the violent breach of the building) to “lightly threaten” lawmakers that were refusing to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.