Witness: Former WNC Congressman hit police car
Madison Cawthorn is shown in a video after allegedly being involved in a collision with a Florida Highway Patrol car, injuring the trooper
Former western North Carolina Congressman, Madison Cawthorn, was allegedly involved in a collision with a Florida Highway Patrol car, resulting in injuries to a trooper on April 15, according to reports from the highway patrol and a witness, Alethea Shapiro — who shared video on social media of Cawthorn near a smashed-up black sports car.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Interstate 75 in Collier County. While the highway patrol did not officially confirm the identity of the driver, Lieutenant Jim Beauford stated that the 2021 Mercedes involved in the rear-end collision with a Dodge Charger patrol car was driven by a 28-year-old male from Cape Coral, Florida. Notably, Cawthorn, who is also 28, relocated from Henderson County to Cape Coral after his unsuccessful reelection bid in 2022.
According to Beauford, the trooper sustained minor injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The driver involved in the incident was cited for violating Florida's Move Over Law, a regulation mandating motorists to reduce speed and change lanes when approaching a law enforcement vehicle stationed on a highway shoulder.
“It occurred to me that former Congressman Cawthorne (sic) from NC was the black car that stormed by me in an angry road rage tantrum,” Shapiro wrote. She added that she then spoke to the officer, who was “quite stunned and kept reaching for his neck.”
Throughout his single term in office spanning from 2021 to 2023, Cawthorn accumulated a series of noteworthy driving citations. These included two misdemeanor charges for driving with a revoked license, speeding at 89 mph in a 65-mph zone, and 87 mph in a 70-mph zone. Although the misdemeanors were dismissed, the speeding infractions were downgraded to lesser offenses.
In May 2023, Cawthorn pleaded guilty to attempting to carry a loaded firearm through security at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Additionally, in 2021, Asheville Regional Airport authorities discovered him in possession of an unloaded firearm while boarding but did not press charges.
In the 2022 primary election, Cawthorn was defeated by Chuck Edwards, a fellow Republican from Henderson County. Edwards later went on to win the November general election against Democratic Buncombe County Commissioner, Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara.
Cawthorn's tenure was marred by various controversies and missteps, including incidents such as bringing a knife to a school board meeting and other educational facilities. He also made headlines for derogatory remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, referring to him as a "thug," and claiming to have been invited to an orgy by Washington officials, as well as alleging that he witnessed anti-drug leaders using cocaine. Cawthorn faced repercussions from the House Ethics Committee in 2022, which fined him over $15,000 for promoting a cryptocurrency in which he had a financial stake. He reportedly became his own campaign treasurer after the campaign illegally spent money meant for the general election.
I took an exclusive video of Cawthorn in Rutherford County, where he described Ukraine as being known for “corruption.” You may watch the video on my YouTube Channel in its entirety or read an unedited transcript here. YouTube tried to remove it last year, claiming it was misinformation about the events of January 6, 2021. I successfully appealed. WRAL also used an excerpt (watch here).
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