Madison Cawthorn Named Honorary Florida Sheriff's Deputy

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

1 1 minute read

Madison Cawthorn, a private citizen and disgraced former North Carolina congressman, was sworn in last week as an honorary southwest Florida sheriff's deputy, a distinction apparently granted despite his spotty record with the force of the order.

The 28-year-old, who was cited in April for crashing into the rear of a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser, posted a series of photos posing with his badge of honor on Instagram on Thursday.

“Such an honor from [Lee County Sheriff] Carmine Marceno is sworn in as an honorary deputy of the county in which I live,” he wrote in the caption.

The former lawmaker touted that the Lee County Sheriff's Office “puts the fear of God in those who wish harm on our community,” adding, “Excited to serve!”

Honorary badges do not grant the holder any powers of arrest and do not require them to perform official duties. It was not immediately clear in what capacity Cawthorn intended to serve. A spokesperson for the Lee County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

“There’s a reason crime is so low [southwest Florida]”, Cawthorn continued in his effusive caption, “that's because our law enforcement is allowed to do their job and they do it perfectly.”

Cawthorn purchased a home in Cape Coral, Florida in August 2022, according to the Asheville Citizen Times. The acquisition came three months after the new congressman lost his re-election bid in the North Carolina Republican primary.

In addition to following the officer, who was hospitalized with minor injuries in the crash, Cawthorn received traffic citations for speeding and driving with a revoked license while on duty. Last May, he was fined $250 after pleading guilty to bringing a loaded handgun into an airport.