Rep. Cawthorn's sordid tales of life in Congress frustrate GOP leadership

madison cawthorn
Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., arrives in the chamber of the House of Representatives before the State of the Union address by President Joe Biden to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington. (Saul Loeb, Pool via AP)

Madison Cawthorn, the freshman Republican congressman from North Carolina, found himself in hot water with GOP leadership after he made comments — without evidence — linking members of his own party with cocaine use and orgies.

The 26-year-old described the “sexual perversion that goes on in Washington” during an appearance of the Warrior Poet Society podcast, saying he was asked to join a “sexual get-together” at a politician’s home. Cawthorn did not provide specific details that could be used to verify his claims.

“And I’m like, ‘What did you just ask me to come to?’ And then you realize they’re asking you to come to an orgy,” Cawthorn said.