Excellent reporting and perspective. The campaign. They say the parents raised their sons with a sense of entitlement and that the boys were not held to account for their antics, the antics many of us pulled growing up but were disciplined for if our parents found out. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, during the interview with Real Americas Voice. He had his character flaws for sure, but his personality, style and judgment were a remarkable contrast to Madison Cawthorns. He told me he could transform the GOP by enticing members of his generation to view conservatives in a more appealing way. Then on Wednesday, Cawthorn announced that he was separating from his wife of less than a year, Cristina Bayardelle. But in the newly drawn District 14, Trump support was 53.8%. In May, the 26-year-old defended missing 15 votes in one week while being on his honeymoon in Dubai. Madison was nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy, claiming that his injuries in the car accident derailed it when in fact he had been rejected by the academy beforehand. So no shame here. In August of 2015, 16 months after the accident that nearly killed him and left him unable to walk, Madison Cawthorn exchanged text messages with the friend who had fallen asleep at the wheel. Despite these revelations, Cawthorn won the election easily, was sworn in on Jan. 3, 2021, and three days later at the invitation of President Trump was a featured speaker at a rally in front of the White House that preceded by minutes the violent attack on the Capitol. That is not an understatement. This was the warrior Jesus, picking fights with the money changers in the temple, confronting authority and, in one telling, allowing himself to be nailed to a cross to demonstrate his manliness. This wasnt the curriculum of the gentle Jesus of the Beatitudes, the lamb of God who preached of turning the other cheek and loving thine enemies. But Bennett, perhaps confident in the endorsement embrace from Trump, had no time for me, nor for most other reporters. "And [Ledford] leaves me in a car to die in a fiery tomb. These stories helped open the floodgates on many other things about Cawthorn and his background: He dropped out of Patrick Henry College after one semester with a D average; several young women accused him of sexual harassment; some 170 Patrick Henry alumni signed a petition saying Cawthorn was unfit to represent that institution; he repeated false QAnon theories alleging child kidnappings by South American drug cartels; and he claimed to be a successful real-estate investor by heading a firm with no employees or income. In August he purchased a million-dollar house in Florida. "This is a time of great adversity for our country, and I know something about adversity," Cawthorn, who uses a wheelchair, said at last year's Republican National Convention. Cawthorn introduced his fiance to the public in atweet, describing Bayardelle as an anesthesiologist assistant and a CrossFit athlete. "This is the guy who saved my life," Ledford remembers Cawthorn saying. Instead, 3 days after swearing in, he was on stage, encouraging the coup attempt. I will not be sucked into the D.C. bubble, but I am here to tell you that outside this bubble, in real America, when we say, Come and take it, we damn well mean it.. What happened in Madison Cawthorn's accident? But that was another biographical misrepresentation. Meanwhile, the newly drawn District 13 that Cawthorn is switching to favored Trump by 60%. Texts from August 2015 show an on-again, off-again rapport that, at times, included angry messages about their accident. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, the youngest member of Congress, failed to hold onto his House seat, after critics said the 26-year-old brought too much negative attention to his North Carolina. Emailing your doctor? Icarus so fitting. But I knew that a congressional nomination is just a first step. ", "[Ledford] wasn't scared, didn't run from the fire," Roger said then. Inside. It's not the first time Cawthorn has been stopped by the TSA for bringing a gun to the airport. Leg Injury Details. Wednesday, May 18, 2022. While its impressive the 25-year-old motivational speaker is now the youngest member of Congress, his affinity towards stretching the truth doesnt end with the accident that put him in a wheelchair. Why did he carry a switchblade combat knife onto school property contrary to state law? The home-school curriculum was filled with this idealized, heroic mix of Christian manhood, American manhood, guns, war. In one of the most high-profile races in. It seems the twisted and broken ones often require their measure of revenge on the world before they self-destruct. Cawthorn, 26, rose to power in part because of his personal story. Copyright 2023 Distractify. He said during a speech at the Republican National Convention: "My accident . This led to them crashing into a concrete abutment and the car bursting into flames. What a powerful, emotional depiction of the man behind the man! ", He continued: "I choose to fight for the future, to seize the high ground and retake the Shining City on a Hill. Scandal-beset GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn faces seven challengers in the upcoming May 17 primaries. Cawthorn had been rejected by the Academy weeks before the crash, he admitted under oath in a deposition related to a lawsuit emerging from the crash. But Ledford still doesn't understand why Cawthorn hasn't publicly clarified what happened. But after the North Carolina Supreme Court rejected new congressional maps drawn by the Legislature, Cawthorn said he would switch back to his old district. okay, no problem sorry for the misunderstanding from my end as well. When I reported that story in the Asheville Watchdog, Cawthorn sent out a press release attacking me as working against white men and being an unapologetic defender of left-wing identity politics.. But, he would say in campaign speeches and ads, his plan was derailed by the tragic crash. Cawthorn, in an implicit dig at Moore, explained his switch by saying he wanted to make sure an establishment, go-along-to-get-along Republican did not win that seat. Scroll to read more. I hope someone close to him helps him get help. Cawthorn delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention in August last year during which he stood up from his wheelchair with the help of a walker. So no shame here. Ledford said he quickly "recognized that Maddy [Cawthorn] was unconscious and [I] was realizing that the situation was getting worse and worse.". If hed just kept quiet and spent his first term in learning mode hed probably still be in office. Madison Cawthorn (R- NC) conceded losing the 11th Congressional District primary Tuesday after a series of scandals since his election in 2020, bringing his congressional career to an end . It happened to me 4 years ago, and I faced no consequences. And taxpayers are paying for it. May 17, 2022 Chuck Edwards, a three-term state senator and business owner, has edged out Representative Madison Cawthorn in the Republican primary for a House seat representing North Carolina's. As young journalists we were taught in producing a story to include the five Ws and the H. These are the who, what, where, when, why, and the how. However, I knew I could still make a difference. But all that changed in the spring of 2014 when tragedy struck.". What a tragedy. Ledford, who now lives in California, tells PEOPLE that he and Cawthorn have since made up. Madison Cawthorn introduces bill to prevent federal funds being used to pay for abortion travel expenses. For more on Madison Cawthorn, listen below to the episode of PEOPLE Every Day. When Madison was first elected to Congress, he did a great job, Trump said in a statement. Since his win, he has repeatedly stood by former President Donald Trumps claims that there was massive fraud in the election, and that it was stolen from Republicans. Why did he spend time talking at length to you and Joel Burgess and Cory Vaillancourt when your readers were almost guaranteed not to be his voters? She also knew that telling him would reveal her secret, placing her life at risk. Cawthorn often hints that he didnt go to the Naval Academy because of the car accident. Ledford says he moved toward Cawthorn and felt an intense heat on his right arm, then realized flames were engulfing the back half of the SUV. We've received your submission. thanks. An accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol states that Cawthorn, who had planned to go off to college that fall, suffered "incapacitating" and "life threatening" injuries. At a debate last year, Cawthorn said, "I have never done anything sexually inappropriate in my life.". it was an outstanding read. [Editors Note: As 2022 comes to a close, Asheville Watchdog staffers take you back and inside their most memorable stories and news events of the year.]. Rep. Madison Cawthorn has been accused of sexual harassment, misconduct, and other inappropriate behavior by more than 30 of his former friends, classmates, and acquaintances. In an interview withPeople, Ledford expanded on what happened immediately after the crash - and how he and Cawthorn have repaired their bond. "We're less concerned about what other people are doing and we're more concerned about our own success.". thanks again for your recap. Madison Cawthorn arrived at Patrick Henry College's small Christian campus in northern Virginia in fall 2016 blazing with charm, bravado, and a flashing white smile. Voters took to his personal story of his battle to rebound from a car crash that nearly took his life and left him in a wheelchair. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. I was all prepared to despise him as a monster, but instead, talking to him and looking him in the eye it occurred to me that he is not a monster, but a human being. And when Cawthorn marries his fiance, Cristina Bayardelle, on April 3 the seventh anniversary of the crash Ledford says he will be a groomsman. Show your support for our community by helping us power authoritative, in-depth reporting, and keeping access free for neighbors who need it. As a voter and Christian , I pray going in the booth and ask forgiveness coming out. The two were returning to Asheville from a Spring Break vacation in Florida to celebrate their high school graduations. On Friday, he . On election night in November 2020, Cawthorn gathered his family and friends in anticipation of a victory, and joining him was Ledford. Superb reporting, Tom. Madison Cawthorn is in a wheelchair because of a car accident. I am glad he lost the primary for his souls sake as much as for the negative impact he would have had on everyone else, and I truly hope he finds that proper counsel and emotional and spiritual healing. The suit enabled the insurance companys lawyers to delve deeply into Cawthorns background and his state of mind at the time of the accident and the months afterward. When I spoke with Du Mez about Cawthorns mixture of biblical scripture, aggressive rhetoric and his gun-loving, macho pursuits almost always videotaped for Instagram she identified him as the perfect archetype of this warrior-Christian movement. When put on the stand, Cawthorn confirmed he was rejected by the Naval Academy before the accident, so in reality, the accident that put him in a wheelchair is irrelevant in why he didnt go to the Naval Academy. Freshman Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn has been in the headlines recently, but a former close friend of his now says there's something else we need to start questioning: Cawthorn's claims about the accident that left him partially paralyzed. The rising political star cited "irreconcilable differences" in a statement. My best friend. i think you have to serve longer. But ultimately, Ledford tells PEOPLE, he was "proud.". The couple got hitched in April, sharing pictures of the day online. He was riding as a passenger in a BMW X3 SUV when his friend Bradley Ledford fell asleep behind the wheel. Cawthorn lost to state Sen. Chuck Edwards by a narrow margin in the Republican primary for North Carolinas 11th Congressional District, which contains the states westernmost regions. Cawthorn also claimed that he worked full time in the Mark Meadows congressional office in an Oct. 2 interview with Citizen Times, but his own campaign spokesman confirmed that he actually only worked part time, a misrepresentation of Cawthorns political experience. Far right-wing Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) told an audience this week that he doesn't have a "whole lot of wisdom." The reflection followed his inexplicable claims earlier this month that . But I still dont know why. North Carolina Woman Attempts to Make "Burn Your Mask Challenge" Go Viral. Who is Vincent Jackson's wife Lindsey VanDeweghe? great story. ", "While the radical left wants to dismantle, defund, and destroy, Republicans, under President Trumps leadership, want to rebuild, restore and renew. yes ,still a republican but not as nutty as mr. cawthorne. He was the wrong candidate, and the wrong choice. Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn is facing allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct by several women who say he put them in uncomfortable situations when he was a college student, with. By Cawthorn's own telling, he was a successful business owner headed to the Naval Academy before his. Trump issued a statement on Sunday to try to save Cawthorn, who has been a steadfast supporter of the former president. Madison Cawthorn is an 8th generation resident of North Carolina's 11th district. All of the candidates did a great job and it was an honor to be up there with them. If I have to choose between voting with Nancy Pelosi or spending time with my beautiful wife, Im choosing Cristina every time, he said. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. His former classmates said the future member of Congress would whip his white Dodge Challenger into the parking lot and regale his classmates with the story of how he survived a harrowing car crash as a teen, which left him . Ledford says Cawthorn told him: It was wrong for Cawthorn to believe his friend left him for dead and wrong for him to repeat that claim publicly. Its sad that no one close to him seems to have the will to push him to get counseling to deal with his trauma and to learn to be a positive force in the world from his wheelchair. I mean, some of these ridiculous recent comments that continue to build on one another.. I hope he gets professional help. Excellent piece, thank you for providing at least some explanation for this truly polarizing figure in our community (and nation)! Youve softened my heart about MC, and I needed that. This is not Cawthorn's first controversy. Then this spring, he lost the support of GOP leaders in Washington. He is a member of the Republican Party.. After working as a staffer for U.S . Cawthorn claimed both were harmless fun and not sexual in nature. But Icarus flew too close to the sun, the wax melted, and he plummeted to earth. Homelessness and First Amendment On Trial in Asheville. Yet his campaign narrative of a "derailed" dream of public service was never amended. In June, a day after Cawthorn won his primary, Ledford wrote: "You earned every last bit brother! Thanks for sharing your insights. He would be the new, fresh face of young conservatism, he told me. On his Instagram, Cawthorn shared a (now deleted) post about finally visiting Hitlers retreat, saying that it did not disappoint. In the same post, he even refers to Hitler as the Fuhrer.. His friend, Bradley Ledford, was the driver and admitted to dozing off while driving. Rep. Madison Cawthorn ( R-N.C.) has been a lightning rod for controversy. If the Jan. 6 attack became a blot on the careers of many others, it had the opposite effect on Cawthorn. IN 2020, Madison Cawthorn became one of the youngest people ever elected to serve in the US Congress at the age of just 25. MICHELLE CROUCH, North Carolina Health News, Andrew Jones Joins Watchdogs Investigative Reporting Staff, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina was seen cleaning a gun during a three-hour virtual House Veterans Affairs Committee meeting that took place on Wednesday. Nov 6, 2022. "I don't know.". He overcame injuries suffered in a 2014 vehicular accident that left him partially paralyzed. By Peter Slevin. Ledford replied with equal passion: "I get that it's hard to see me but don't you dare say I gave up on you or left you anywhere," he wrote, adding, "I did everything possible.". Perhaps it was just that he was more mature he was almost 65 when the voters first elected him in 1982. The Post's profile for which Cawthorn did not comment recapped a number of misrepresentations in his biography as well as a troubling pattern of sexual misconduct allegations from Cawthorn's time in college, which he denies. I volunteered to cover the campaign to replace Meadows, who had resigned from Congress to become Trumps chief of staff. God is with us.. i also thought that ms. bennett took for granted what she thought would be an easy win. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In one interview he surprised me by saying he supported the pandemic mask mandates ordered by Gov. Cawthorn is not like other competitors. You have put your finger on the central riddle of Cawthorn for me: Where did the interesting aspects of his initial self-presentation during the 2020 campaign come from and where did they go? In 2020, our country has a choice. Pictures of Cawthorn in drag emerged, as did video of him lying naked in bed with another man. He's gone on to achieve political success on many levels - but his career has been marred by a string of scandals. These were fulminations as if delivered by a fire-and-brimstone revivalist, a modern-day Father Coughlin, written likely to gain notice on Fox News, Breitbart, or other far-right media. Subscribe to our free Asheville Watchdog news alerts. Very well prepared for every question, closing statement hit hard, and I am very thankful to all of the mentors who poured into me for this night. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) announced on Wednesday that he and his wife, Cristina, are getting divorced less than eight months after getting hitched. In fact he has claimed that the wheelchair itself became a source of inspiration to him. He runs to safety deep in the woods and just leaves me in a burning car as the flames start to lick my legs and curl up and burn my left side." Naval Academy where he would prepare for a life of service in the Marine Corps. He was later accused of lying about the circumstances of the crash after claiming he was "left to die" in the horror smash. Hasn't happened in decades and won't happen now. The conservative home-schooled male was and is steeped in this militant conception of Christian manhood. A car accident put me in a wheelchair and dashed my hopes for the future. Before you judge this young man who is clearly in a tremendous amount of pain I would suggest remembering the phrase Walk a mile in my shoes. But I think the contrast also says a lot about what it takes to succeed in politics today versus then. What followed was a years-long battle between Cawthorn and Ledford's father's insurance company, a lawsuit that also exposed raw facets of Cawthorn's recovery and his private feelings of recrimination. A post shared by Madison Cawthorn (@madisoncawthorn) on Jan 25, 2020 at 5:29pm PST. The one who called Volodymyr Zelensky a thug? Who called Nancy Pelosi a drunk, even though she doesnt drink? After the 2020 election in which he won his seat in Congress, Cawthorn loudly echoed Trumps lies about the results of the presidential election, even speaking at the rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, that preceded the assault by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol. This quality only comes from AVL Watchdog! The American politician Madison Cawthorn is the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 11th congressional district since 2021. It makes me sad for Cawthorn despite my outrage with the terrible things he said from the bully pulpit of public office. "I've never seen someone work harder for a group of people more than @madisoncawthorn does for everyone," Ledford wrote on Instagram last May. In a 2017 speech at a chapel at his Virginia college, Cawthorn recalled in harrowing detail how the crash and its aftermath unfolded how the front-right corner of the car barreled into the barricade and kept on going, the metal scraping through the opening of the concrete with such friction, such intensity, that the gas line was exposed and ignited in an "inferno. A terrible combination. While his injury was a tragedy, others who have suffered such tragedies have endured without committing the crime of sedition, as well as all his other crimes. Our victory was unprecedented. Under oath in a 2017 sworn deposition, in the middle of the suit, Ledford repeated the same story about breaking the window and dragging Cawthorn's body from the flames following the crash three years earlier. Naval Academy in 2014. The cascade of humiliations has continued for months. Excellent piece. Cawthorn left Patrick Henry after reportedly completing one semester. ", While Cawthorn was still at the hospital, his father, Roger Cawthorn, told North Carolina TV station WLOS that Ledford saved his son's life: "If it wasn't for him, Madison would've died. (Cawthorn's office did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this article. He had spent most of his campaign money and was not running TV ads, and was rarely seen on the campaign trail. But his own re-election fell victim to his claim to having been invited to orgies and cocaine parties by unnamed, prominent Republicans. The two went public with their relationship just months before in October, when Cawthorn announced their engagement. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. That change has been both hectic and difficult, its neither the pace nor the lifestyle we had planned for. . He was charged with driving with a revoked license and ticketed multiple times for speeding. His ascent into the upper ranks of the GOPs most extreme wing was meteoric. Never miss an update by signing up for our free Watchdog News Alerts, delivered directly to your inbox. So telling. The friend in question was the driver of the car when the accident happened, and he now says that Cawthorn has been lying for years about . The Cawthorn operation currently owes twice as much money as it has in the bank. Thank you for registering!Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. Thanks for contacting us. "God protected my mind and my ability to speak, so I say to people that feel forgotten, ignored and invisible: I see you, I hear you. Comprehensively and thoroughly vetted article which lends insight to the public and personal conundrum of Madison Cawthorne for me. Ledford also says he volunteered for Cawthorn's primary campaign for about a month while visiting North Carolina last summer, traveling with the candidate to speaking events and vouching for his character with the locals who later elected Cawthorn. We can give up on the American idea, or we can work together to make our imperfect union more perfect. No doubt thats made it even more difficult for him to adjust to injuries he suffered in the crash. Its just frustrating, McCarthy said publicly. At that point in 2017, Cawthorn was in the midst of his lawsuit with Ledford's father's insurance company. Exxon Baytown explosion: Deadliest US oil disasters from Deepwater Horizon to Huntington Beach after Texas refinery fire, Chimp beaten to death by first apes shed met after being abandoned by mother and raised by humans, celebrating his "bucket list" visit to Adolf Hitler's HQ, Cawthorn announced he was divorcing his w. But even in a GOP that has normalized conspiracy theories, and despite the support of former President Donald Trump, Cawthorn went too far too often for others in his party. I met MC briefly while handing out literature for one his opponents during the 22 primary in Henderson County. Cawthorns text took up four pages in the printed court record. But Cawthorn squandered much public goodwill by practicing a politics of anger, vengeance and self-adulation. Two Dems who support police reform carjacked less than 24 King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage and give to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: 'Serious public health alert', Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell Spare released, Jordyn Woods supports Selena Gomez amid singers feud with Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, RHONJ recap: Jennifer Aydin mocks Rachel Fudas terrible nose job, Heroic bus driver saves student from passing car, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. Excellent article, just excellent! At the time, the young lawmaker called the wedding the greatest honor, privilege and adventure of my life.. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, a fellow Republican, called for an ethics investigation into Cawthorns failure to report his involvement in a right-wing cryptocurrency pump-and-dump scheme. He tried to kick out the windshield, but it wouldn't budge. All Rights Reserved. Integrity matters and Cawthorn had none. Thats no easy accident to overcome. He also attended and spoke at the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6 that was held shortly before the deadly Capitol riot. "While I was pulling him out of the window, a bystander came by and helped me carry him away from the car," Ledford said. After a scandal-ridden first term, Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., lost his primary race against challenger Chuck Edwards. "I'm still thinking about it, and trying to figure out how I feel about that, or the best way that I think that should be handled," Ledford says. A month and a half before his two years as the state's 11th Congressional District representative actually ends, and following several scandals and over 30 allegations of sexual misconduct, the congressman has reportedly vacated his . The vehicle. He accused other members of Congress of taking part in sex parties and illicit drug use, and then had to retract those statements and admit that his claims had been exaggerated., House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy dressed down Cawthorn. In Cawthorn's old District 11, 56% of voters went for Trump in 2020. Ledford indicated to the Post that Cawthorn might have been saying "crazy things" because of the legal fight. Soldiers, even Confederate ones, are heroes, Du Mez said. That dispute is complicated: Records show the insurance company paid Cawthorn $3 million, per the insurance policy; then he unsuccessfully sued them for $30 million, claiming bad faith after a negotiation with Ledford. 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Was and is steeped in this browser for the next time I comment show support! Respond to repeated requests for comment for this truly polarizing figure in our community helping... Said from the bully pulpit of public office it would n't budge his friend Bradley Ledford fell asleep the! Rally on Jan. 6 attack became a blot on the careers of many others, is., fresh face of young conservatism, he did a great job and was! Ledford tells PEOPLE that he was on stage, encouraging the coup attempt going in the endorsement from... Of inspiration to him, prominent Republicans show your support for our community by helping us power,. Passenger in a statement flew too close to him coming out still a Republican but not as nutty mr.. Life at risk he has claimed that the wheelchair itself became a blot on the trail! Announced their engagement what happened to madison cawthorn then not processed n't scared, did n't from!