Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C) is doubling down and blaming Democrats and the media for his comments about colleagues in Washington D.C. engaging in orgies and doing cocaine, as he faces backlash from some members in the GOP conference.
“Corruption and unethical activities exist in Washington,” Cawthorn said in a statement. “It’s an indisputable fact. If you don’t think that’s true, you’ve not witnessed the Swamp.”
He continued: “My comments on a recent podcast appearance calling out corruption have been used by the left and the media to disparage my Republican colleagues and falsely insinuate their involvement in illicit activities.”
“The left and the media want to use my words to divide the GOP. … I will not back down to the mob, and I will not let them win. I will continue fighting for many years to come,” he added.
Cawthorn landed in hot water with GOP House leadership this week over comments he made during an appearance on Warrior Poet Society podcast about colleagues in Washington D.C. inviting him to orgies and doing cocaine in front of him.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told Cawthorn that he “lost his trust” after the two met on Wednesday and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis endorsed Cawthorn’s primary opponent. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C) called Cawthorn an “embarrassment.”
According to Politico, McCarthy was the one who pushed Cawthorn to put out a statement to clarify his remarks hoping to calm leaders and other members of the party who were offended by his comment. It is not clear if this statement will be enough.
