Madison Cawthorn is cited for bringing a loaded gun into the Charlotte Airport, local outlet reports

U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., speaks to the crowd before former President Donald Trump takes the stage at a rally Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Selma, N.C.

Chris Seward/AP

• GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn on Tuesday reportedly carried a loaded gun into the Charlotte airport.
• TSA officers discovered a 9-millimeter handgun at a security checkpoint. 
• Last year, Cawthorn was cited for having a gun in his carry-on luggage at Asheville Regional Airport.

Officers cited Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn on Tuesday for reportedly carrying a loaded gun in Charlotte Douglas International Airport, local TV station WSOC reported.

According to the station, TSA officers discovered a 9-millimeter handgun at Checkpoint D. TSA officials declined to identify who owned the gun, but three unnamed sources told the outlet that it was Cawthorn's.

A spokesperson for the airport referred Insider to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The department and Cawthorn's office did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Mark J. Howell, a regional spokesperson for the TSA, confirmed to Insider that officers confiscated a loaded Staccato 9mm handgun at approximately 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Howell said that it was against agency policy to identify who owns the handgun.

Cawthorn has been the center of controversy in recent weeks. He was also previously cited, but not charged, in February 2021 for trying to bring a gun onto a plane in his carry-on luggage at Asheville Regional Airport.

The first-term North Carolina lawmaker was publicly rebuked by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy after suggesting on a podcast that he'd seen Washington Republicans use cocaine and been propositioned to engage in an orgy. On Friday, Politico published photos of Cawthorn wearing women's lingerie, which the lawmaker later said were "goofy vacation photos."

Cawthorn is facing a tough primary challenge to hold on to his seat. Fed up with his antics, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has gone so far as to endorse one of Cawthorn's GOP challengers.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

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source https://www.businessinsider.com/madison-cawthorn-cited-for-having-a-loaded-gun-in-charlotte-airport-2022-4