Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn (N.C) was caught trying to bring a loaded gun through security at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport Tuesday morning.
TSA officers spotted the gun at the checkpoint and called airport police, according to ABC News.
This is the second time Cawthorn has brought a firearm to an airport. In February 2021, he attempted to bring a gun through security at the Asheville Regional Airport.
Mark Howell, a Transportation Security Administration spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that agents detected a loaded Staccato 9mm handgun in a bag at Checkpoint D at the Charlotte airport at around 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department confirmed in a statement that the gun was seized from Cawthorn. He was issued a misdemeanor citation.
“Mr. Cawthorn stated that the firearm was his and he was cooperative with the CMPD officers,” the department said in a statement posted on Twitter. “Mr. Cawthorn was issued a citation for Possession of a Dangerous Weapon on City Property, which is a City of Charlotte Ordinance. Mr. Cawthorn was released, and the CMPD took possession of the firearm, which is normal procedure.”
This is the latest in a string of bad headlines for the freshman Republican lawmaker whose behavior has become a headache for the GOP. He is expected to face a tough primary battle. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C) has already endorsed one of Cawthorn’s primary opponent.
