CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Former Representative Madison Cawthorn appeared in court Friday regarding a citation for allegedly bringing a loaded gun through TSA at Charlotte Douglas International Airport last year.
TSA said the loaded Staccato 9mm handgun was detected inside a bag around 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, at Checkpoint D inside CLT Airport.
CMPD said Cawthorn admitted the firearm was his and he was cooperative with officers. He was issued a citation for possession of a dangerous weapon on city property, which is a City of Charlotte Ordinance.
Cawthorn was released after the incident and his firearm was taken into police possession, which Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said was normal procedure.
“It is standard procedure for the CMPD Airport Division to cite in lieu of arrest for the misdemeanor charge of possession of a dangerous weapon on city property unless there are other associated felony charges or extenuating circumstances,” CMPD said.
A Mecklenburg County judge on Friday granted a joint request to continue the case until May 5.
This was not the former Republican Congressman’s first run-in with TSA. On February 13, 2021, at Asheville Regional Airport, a loaded 9mm Glock was found inside Cawthorn’s bag going through screening, records showed.
