Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) has described a recent nude recording leak of him as “blackmail,” stating he will not back down despite the “hit against me.”
In a tweet, the North Carolina lawmaker said that the video was real and that he was fooling about with a friend.
Here’s what Cawthorn wrote in his tweet:
“A new hit against me just dropped. Years ago, in this video, I was being crass with a friend, trying to be funny. We were acting foolish, and joking. That’s it.”
“I’m NOT backing down. I told you there would be a drip drip campaign. Blackmail won’t win. We will.”
A new hit against me just dropped.
Years ago, in this video, I was being crass with a friend, trying to be funny.
We were acting foolish, and joking.
That’s it.
I’m NOT backing down.
I told you there would be a drip drip campaign.
Blackmail won’t win. We will.
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) May 4, 2022
The remarks from the freshman congressman came after the American Muckrakers PAC, an anti-Cawthorn opposition party, said they shared the video after receiving it from an anonymous source who claimed to have previously donated to Cawthorn.
Muckrakers PAC President David B. Wheeler said in a statement on the posting of the video:
“Madison Cawthorn should resign from Congress today. While his sexual orientation or behavior behind closed doors is no interest whatsoever to us, his actions should have consequences.”
“Ask him for any of this information. We do not know those details. We do know Rep. Cawthorn shouldn’t be in Congress regardless of when this video was taken. We don’t have any further comment at this time.”
According to Daily Wire:
In the 30-second clip, what appears to be a nude Cawthorn is shown in a bed and then climbing up to put his groin in what appears to be a man’s face, at which time he begins thrusting. Then a voice can be heard saying “Oh ma yah yah oh” repeatedly, and another male voice says, “stick it in his face.”
The latest video comes after photos surfaced showing Cawthorn dressed in women’s lingerie. At that time, Cawthorn also said it was a joke, saying the photos came from a “goofy” game on a cruise.
Cawthorn was first elected to government in 2020 to represent North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, filling a position vacated by former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
He is an unabashed supporter of former President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” brand of politics. Cawthorn announced his reelection campaign in the 13th District in November but switched back to the 11th District in February.
