(The Hill) — Two pictures of Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn (N.C.) shared with Politico show the embattled congressman at what appears to be a party in lingerie.
The political news outlet reported that it obtained the photos from a person who was previously close to Cawthorn, and his campaign. Another person who was formerly close with Cawthorn confirmed the pictures.
Cawthorn is controversial figure in the Republican Party. He previously accused congressional colleagues of inviting him to orgies. Cawthorn told “Warrior Poet Society” podcast host John Lovell that lawmakers have invited him to orgies and done cocaine in front of him.
According to Politico, Cawthorn has staked his political persona on “traditional Christian principles” and the importance of hypermasculinity
He also recently called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy a “thug” amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky has been hailed internationally for his leadership amid the crisis in Ukraine, and he has vowed to remain in the country fighting with his people.
The accusations caused a harsh response from his own party, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) chastising him for the comments.
Cawthorn acknowledged the photos in a tweet Friday, saying they were from a vacation on a cruise and were taken before he ran for Congress.
“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 said.
“They’re running out of things to throw at me…” he added.
The photos also come after Cawthorn took to the House floor earlier this month to share his definition of a woman, alleging Democrats were waging a “war on biology.”
Cawthorn defined a woman as having “XX chromosomes, no tallywhacker.”
It is unclear when the pictures were taken, according to Politico. However, the outlet did note that the pictures were most likely shot after 2014, because Cawthorn appears to be in a wheelchair.
He has used a wheelchair since he got into a car crash and was paralyzed from the waist down.
Cawthorn is facing a primary against several Republicans, with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) throwing his endorsement behind Cawthorn’s opponent, state Sen. Chuck Edwards (R).