Madison Cawthorn's DC orgy allegations will be addressed, McCarthy reportedly tells GOP

On this episode of "Is This Real, Or Is The Simulation Getting Way Too Advanced?", House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is reportedly setting aside time to speak with Rep. Madison Cawthorn following remarks in which the North Carolina Republican claimed he's seen cocaine use in Washington and been invited to orgies by D.C. insiders, CNN and Politico report.
Speaking with John Lovell of the Warrior Poet Society, Cawthorn was asked how closely life in Congress mirrors the fictional TV show House of Cards, to which Cawthorn replied by detailing some of "the sexual perversion that goes on in Washington." He said that, as a "young guy," he's been invited to "sexual get-togethers" at people's homes.
"And then you realize they're asking you to come to an orgy," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What's more, some people in Washington — ones Cawthorn claims are leading the movement "to try and remove addiction in our country" — will do key bumps of cocaine "right in front of you."
"And it's like, this is wild," he said.
It's not immediately clear if Cawthorn is referring to lawmakers or just well-connected individuals in DC — but either way, the freshman representative "is making some very serious allegations," CNN writes. And according Politico's Olivia Beavers, some in his caucus are not happy about it.
Apparently, multiple Republicans in a closed-door House GOP meeting told McCarthy they take issue with "Cawthorn portraying his own colleagues as bacchanalian and sexual deviants," Politico writes. The minority leader promised he'd speak with the 26-year-old about it.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall for that conversation!
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 17, 2025
Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - Harvard University, small businesses, and more
By The Week US
-
Fake AI job seekers are flooding U.S. companies
In the Spotlight It's getting harder for hiring managers to screen out bogus AI-generated applicants
By Theara Coleman, The Week US
-
The sneaky rise of whooping cough
Under the Radar The measles outbreak isn't the only one to worry about
By Theara Coleman, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump pauses some tariffs but ramps up China tax
Speed Read The president suspended most 'reciprocal' tariffs for 90 days and raised his tariffs for China to 125%
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US