NC Sen. Thom Tillis spent $300,000 in an ad campaign against Rep. Madison Cawthorn, saying he 'lies for the limelight'

• A super PAC spent $300,000 in an ad campaigning against North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn.
• The PAC is connected to North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.

A super PAC connected to North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis spent over $300,000 in an ad campaigning against Rep. Madison Cawthorn, per Axios.

The ad targeting Cawthorn, a Republican representing North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, is the latest sign of frustration aimed at Cawthorn by Republicans.

"Madison Cawthorn lied about being accepted to the Naval Academy to get elected. Now, Cawthorn's been caught lying about conservatives. In perpetual pursuit of celebrity, Cawthorn will lie about anything," said the 30-second ad posted to YouTube by the super PAC Results for NC, Inc.

The ad continued: "An attention-seeking embarrassment, Cawthorn's antics help him but hurt us. Lying about conservatives, stolen valor, Madison Cawthorn lies for the limelight."

The ad, which cost $310,000, according to Federal Election Commission filings, referenced Cawthorn's claims during his 2020 campaign run that he had planned to attend the Naval Academy before he was in a car accident that left him partially paralyzed in a wheelchair.

It also appeared to reference Cawthorn's recent claims that he had been invited to an orgy by people he "looked up to" and witnessed prominent figures consuming drugs right in front of him. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy later summoned Cawthorn to a meeting and told reporters that Cawthorn's comments were "unacceptable."

Cawthorn's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on Sunday.

Tillis has endorsed North Carolina State Sen. Chuck Edwards, who is running against Cawthorn.

"Madison Cawthorn has fallen well short of the most basic standards Western North Carolina expects from their representatives, and voters now have several well-qualified candidates to choose from who would be a significant improvement," Tillis said in his endorsement of Sen. Edwards.

On Friday, Politico reported on photos of Cawthorn, a staunch conservative, wearing lingerie. Cawthorn quickly responded, calling the pictures "goofy vacation photos during a game on a cruise."

"I guess the left thinks goofy vacation photos during a game on a cruise (taken waaay before I ran for Congress) is going to somehow hurt me?" Cawthorn tweeted. "They're running out of things to throw at me..."