It is unclear if the suggestive labels were meant as jokes between the representative and his close aide.
A political group has submitted evidence to the Office of Congressional Ethics suggesting that rep. Madison Cawthorn may have broken regulations with regards to his relationship with one of his staff members. The Fire Madison Cawthorn group, operated by the American Muckrakers PAC, accused the North Carolina congressman of ethical violations, including paying thousands of dollars worth of gifts, loans and other benefits to his staffer and close aide, Stephen Smith,23, which were not declared. The filings also suggest that Cawthorn is engaging in an improper relationship with Smith which is «separate and apart from the professional relationship» of employer and employee. Among the evidence submitted include a number of Venmo payments between the pair from June 2018 with crude and suggestive messages attached. In several Venmo payments Cawthorn is alleged to have sent to Smith, which have not been verified by Newsweek, the congressman added notes reading: «Getting naked for me in Sweden,» «the stuff we did in Amsterdam,» «the quickie at the airport» and «breaking and entering.» Other alleged Venmo payments Smith sent to Cawthorn included messages such as «For loving me daily and nightly» and «Nudes.
