- Rep.
Madison Cawthorn said he has been invited to orgies and seen people do drugs in DC. - His comments drew criticism from Rep. Kevin McCarthy and other
Republicans .
Rep. Madison Cawthorn has blamed the left and the media for trying to "disparage" his GOP colleagues over claims he made about drugs and orgies in Washington, DC.
The 26-year-old congressman from North Carolina caused a stir earlier this week when he said on a podcast that $4 and that he has been invited to orgies and seen people do $4.
Cawthorn did not specify if he was talking about members of Congress or others in DC, though many took it as referring to lawmakers.
Fellow $4, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy saying Cawthorn "lost my trust." Both senators from North Carolina also criticized Cawthorn, with Sen. Thom Tillis endorsing his opponent and Sen. Richard Burr calling him "an embarrassment."
—Rep. Madison Cawthorn (@RepCawthorn) $4
In a statement posted to $4 on Friday, Cawthorn said his comments on the podcast were "used by the left and the media to disparage my Republican colleagues and falsely insinuate their involvement in illicit activities."
But he also said "corruption and unethical activities exist in Washington" and that "the culture in Washington is corrupt," adding "my colleagues and I are fighting that corruption."
A representative for Cawthorn did not immediately respond to Insider's questions about whether he was walking back his comments on drugs and orgies or how he felt the left and media had improperly used his words.
Despite the backlash from some members of his party, Cawthorn appears to still be in the good graces of former President Donald Trump. A $4 for Trump announced on Friday that Cawthorn would be speaking at the former president's upcoming rally in North Carolina on April 9.