Cawthorn's claims that his colleagues have invited him to an orgy and that he watched a fellow lawmaker consume cocaine caused uproar in his own conference. Cawthorn has made a number of controversial remarks.
There are a lot of things that can happen. I told him that he had lost my trust. McCarthy said that Cawthorn could face consequences for his actions, including losing his committee positions.
McCarthy said that he pointed out certain things that Cawthorn needed to start doing professionally and in his own life.
McCarthy said that statements like that are not allowed as a member of Congress.
The House GOP's top two leaders expressed real concern with some of the things that he has done, according to an interview with the House Minority Whip. The ball is in his court in terms of how to respond. We were clear with the concerns we had and a lot of other members as well.
POLITICO reported Tuesday that McCarthy would have a talk with the freshman about his comments. The Wednesday morning meeting was attended by Scalise.
At times, the Republican leader has seemed content to leave troublesome members alone. McCarthy was pressured to address another controversy within his ranks when two of his colleagues attended an event led by a white nationalist. McCarthy said he met with the Georgia firebrand on the matter and that she wouldn't do it again. It's not clear if he met with Gosar.
McCarthy cited the orgy-cocaine claims and Cawthorn's call for Zelenskyy to be removed as problematic. Cawthorn caused a controversy when he lied to an officer in the Capitol, saying that a GOP congressional candidate was one of his staffers. McCarthy said it was unacceptable for a member of Congress to be caught driving without a license after failing to show up to court.
McCarthy had information for Republican lawmakers who have called on Cawthorn to name names. The GOP leader said that Cawthorn described the cocaine incident differently than he did in the podcast. Cawthorn told McCarthy that he doesn't think he saw a lawmaker, and that he thinks he saw a staffer in a parking garage.
It is frustrating. McCarthy said there was no evidence behind his statements.
It may not be Cawthorn's last meeting on the topic. The chair of the House Freedom Caucus told POLITICO in an interview Wednesday that he plans to discuss the matter with Cawthorn, as more than one of the ultra-conservative members in the group rattle about kicking him out of the caucus. His ousting is not seen as likely.
The remarks earned Cawthorn anger and opprobrium across the House GOP, including rank-and-file members who often stay quiet.
If the conversation with the GOP leaders ended with a simple promise from Cawthorn that he won't make comments or suggestions like this again, then Rep. Steve Womack would be satisfied.
Depends on the outcome of the meeting. That hasn't worked. If western North Carolina isn't going to fix the problem, then leadership will have to do it.
An earlier version of the report had a spelling error.
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