Madison Cawthorn, Lame-Duck Trump Ally, Leaves Congressional Offices Early

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who serves in North Carolina’s 11th congressional district, has reportedly vacated his Washington, DC office about six weeks before Rep. Chuck Edwards-elect will succeed him.

According to a report by the Asheville-based newspaper Citizen TimesCawthorn’s office had been “cleaned out” since Wednesday and his name tag was no longer on the door.

Capitol Hill correspondent for the News&Observer, Danielle BattagliaShe tweeted a photo of the furniture being moved out of Cawthorn’s office on Monday.

Cawthorn’s district office in Hendersonville was also dark and locked Citizen Times reported, adding that “the rooms were empty and cleaning supplies could be seen on a counter.” A voicemail message from Cawthorn’s office said the representative “is no longer accepting new requests for assistance as our office begins to close for the term.”

Edwards, a fellow Republican, defeated Cawthorn in the GOP primary in May, ending the incumbent’s chances of a second term. The next convention session, at which Edwards will take office as district representative, does not begin until January 3.

Cawthorn was also reportedly absent from the House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon when the chamber voted on whether to prohibit judicial enforcement of non-disclosure agreements in sexual assault and harassment cases, the reported News&Observer. The congressman instead submitted a letter to the domestic worker, saying that Florida Representative Matt Gaetz had agreed to become Cawthorn’s deputy.

According to that News&ObserverWednesday was the 12th time Cawthorn had sent a letter to the domestic worker since losing the primary in the spring.

On Tuesday, Cawthorn attended former President Donald Trump’s candidacy ceremony in Palm Beach, Fla., Business Insider reported. Cawthorn also reportedly bought a $1.1 million home in southwest Florida in August Citizen Timesalthough voting and ownership records show he is still registered to vote in North Carolina.

Trump backed Cawthorn ahead of the spring primaries, urging voters to give the congressman a “second chance” after the former president called “stupid mistakes.” In the months leading up to the ballot, Cawthorn had been caught holding a gun at airport security for a second time, had been accused of speeding and driving with a suspended driver’s license, and had faced allegations of illegal insider trading related to the cryptocurrency Let’s Go “Confronted Brandon.”

In a video posted to Cawthorn’s Instagram on Wednesday, the congressman said he flew from Washington, DC to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on Tuesday to hear the former president’s speech and gave his official support for Trump’s re-election.

“I will follow this man until the day I die, barring some terrible information,” Cawthorn said. “This man bled for us, this man fought for us, this man gave up his entire career, his entire life, his entire personality… he risked everything for every single one of us.”

news week has reached out to the Edwards campaign team for comment.