North Carolina Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn was cited for carrying a loaded gun at a Charlotte airport, marking the second time the congressman has been found with a firearm while attempting to board a plane.
Cawthorn’s citation was first reported by WSOC-TV, which cited local sources noting the discovery of a loaded 9mm handgun. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reportedly declined to comment on the alleged incident.
“It’s unclear if Cawthorn will face any criminal charges. A spokesperson for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department couldn’t immediately comment,” the outlet reported.
“The TSA does not release passenger information in any incident,” the TSA said in an email to the Charlotte Observer.
Cawthorn could be fined up to $13,000 if found guilty of the gun violation.
BREAKING: Rep. Madison Cawthorn was caught trying to board a plane this morning with this gun at the Charlotte Airport. This is the second time the congressman has been caught. He faces fines up to $13,000. pic.twitter.com/e5O4O43N3L
— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) April 26, 2022
The reported violation marks the second time the North Carolina congressman has been cited with a firearm at an airport.
In July, a report by WCNC-TV Charlotte revealed that Cawthorn was attempting to board a plane in Asheville, North Carolina, when TSA officials found an unloaded Glock 9mm handgun along with a loaded magazine in his carry-on.
“Audio recordings of law enforcement at the airport confirm that Cawthorn attempted to bring the gun through security with only minutes remaining before the flight (“…seven minutes until his flight…”) but that TSA staff detected the gun and detained him,” the report revealed.
The incident led police to question Cawthorn. Law enforcement reportedly secured the gun and wrote a report, though the congressman was not charged or fined.
Cawthorn was also reportedly found carrying a large knife when appearing to address the Henderson County Public Schools Administrative Offices in Hendersonville, North Carolina, in September, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The concerns regarding weapons are the latest among a series of growing problems for the young political leader. Last week, a newly-released police dashcam video revealed that Cawthorn had been pulled over with an invalid driver’s license.
Madison Cawthorn pulled over by police AGAIN. Cop has to confiscate his driver’s license because, get this, it’s invalid. Officer then has Cawthorn switch places with his passenger, so she can drive instead. pic.twitter.com/fv94BQRvOT
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) April 21, 2022
The traffic stop reportedly occurred on March 3, and Cawthorn was reportedly pulled over for slightly veering out of his lane. He was asked to switch seats with the passenger of the vehicle after his expired license was discovered. The congressman was also reportedly driving with an expired license plate tag.
The GOP House member was also charged for driving with a revoked license in 2017.
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Source: Dailywire
