Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s Gift Receipts To Aide Stephen Smith Suggest ‘Inappropriate’ Relationship

In messages uncovered by a political activist group, Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-South Carolina) appears to have broken House rules concerning his relationship with a staffer.

The evidence was submitted to the Office of Congressional Ethics by the Fire Madison Cawthorn group, an organization run by the American Muckrakers PAC.

With the evidence uncovered, they accused Cawthorn of sending thousands of dollars in gifts to a staffer, Stephen Smith.

Some of the notes attached to the Venmo receipts read: “Getting naked for me in Sweden,” “the stuff we did in Amsterdam,” “the quickie at the airport,” and “breaking and entering.”

The receipts suggest an intimate relationship with Smith and a possible love affair with his staffer.

The new evidence comes after a video was leaked of Cawthorn lying naked with another man. Cawthorn claimed the footage was “blackmail,” and the video was just him “being crass with a friend.”

In another video, Cawthorn and Smith made suggestive comments to each other before Smith placed his hand on Cawthorn’s crotch.

“I feel the passion and desire, and would like to see a naked body beneath my hands,” Cawthorn said.

Smith replied, “me too.”

The group claimed Cawthorn’s relationship was “separate and apart from the professional relationship” expected between Cawthorn and his employee.

Upon further investigation, the activists found more messages and receipts titled “for loving me daily and nightly” and “nudes.”

During a honeymoon in Saudi Arabia, Smith was reported to have joined Cawthorn and his now-ex wife. The celebration happened eight months before Cawthorn’s eventual divorce from his wife, Cristina Bayardelle.

Cawthorn was defeated in the GOP primary, so he will not be returning to Congress for a second term. The ethics case against him is continuing to move forward.