Quick Takes (v65): Law and Order, or Something

I thought about writing this one as an Irony Board piece, but given the subject matter, it seemed more appropriate to use the 'Quick Takes' theme. 

I have no idea why Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-Pol of Lies, NC) has so much trouble obeying the law. Maybe he's always in a hurry to get back to DC for one of those orgies he told us about? Or maybe a drug party?  

I don't know, but for a kid, he's building up quite a record of violations, across several states. Here's a summary.

• Oct. 13, 2011, Henderson County, NC: speeding. Case disposed Jan. 25, 2012. Pleaded guilty to a lesser speed, fined $40.

• Feb. 27, 2016, Henderson County, NC: speeding and expired registration card/tag. Case disposed May 18, 2016. Pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of failure to wear seat belt in rear seat; fined $75; The expired registration card/tag charge was dismissed. (How, exactly, do you get that lesser charge option?)

• April 21, 2016, South Carolina: speeding more than 25 mph over the speed limit. Pleaded down to a 10-miles-over violation in July 2016.

• Oct. 7, 2016, Virginia: following too close. Case resolved Jan. 27, 2017. 

• Dec. 8, 2017, Buncombe County, NC: driving while license revoked (but not impaired). Case dismissed Dec. 29, 2017. 

• Dec. 12, 2019, Georgia: speeding more than 25 mph over the speed limit and having expired tags, followed by a charge of failure to appear on Feb. 7, 2020. Plea deal negotiated in August 2021. 

• Oct. 18, 2021, Buncombe County, NC: speeding. Case disposed March 4, 2022. Pleaded guilty to improper equipment, fined $25. 

• Jan. 8, 2022, Polk County, NC: speeding, traveling 87 mph in a 70 mph. Court date is June 2. 

• March 3, 2022, Cleveland County, NC: driving while license revoked (but not impaired). Court date is May 6. 

Now, he's not just a speed demon, he's sometimes armed - or, when he thinks it's useful, he claims he's armed. 

• Jan. 6, 2021: Cawthorn said he was armed on the day Trump insurrectionists attacked the Capitol building. Not sure why he felt the need to be armed on that particular day, or why he felt the need to tell people he went to work armed that day. Bringing weapons to the Capitol, and to Senate and House buildings, is prohibited, of course.

• February 2021: Cawthorn attempted to board a plane in Asheville with a handgun and a loaded magazine in his luggage. He was not charged; the gun and ammo were held for him to pick up when he returned. Rules on charging people for this stupidity vary by location.

• Also in 2021: Cawthorn visited schools around North Carolina, and was accused of bringing a knife to at least four of those visits. There are a number of laws that could apply to Cawthorn's possession of knives on school grounds.

It's no secret that Cawthorn's a jerk, or that he's a proven liar; he's also been accused of predatory behavior towards women. 

I'd say he's a stain on the House of Representatives, but I guess I'd be wrong.

After all, without irony, Cawthorn was named to the House Veterans Affairs Committee - after claiming the reason he didn't make it into the US Naval Academy was because of his car accident. That's a bald-faced lie; he had already been rejected before he had the accident. 

And, also without irony? The party of law and order, the 'rule of law' folks, seem to think he's good enough for them.