New video of scandal-ridden GOP Rep Madison Cawthorn having his crotch felt by a close male friend and staff member is at the center of a complaint calling for an investigation into him and filed with the Office of Congressional Ethics today, DailyMail.com can reveal.
The extraordinary footage, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com and seen here for the first time today, shows Cawthorn, 26, in a car with his close aide and his scheduler Stephen Smith, 23.
Cawthorn sits in the driver's seat apparently filmed by Smith as he adopts an exaggerated accent and says, 'I feel the passion and desire and would like to see a naked body beneath my hands.'
The camera then pans back to Smith who says, 'Me too' as Cawthorn can be heard laughing. Smith then films himself reaching his hand over and into Cawthorn's crotch.
The video is one of several exhibits filed in support of the ethics complaint drafted by political group Fire Madison Cawthorn.
Footage obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com shows Rep. Madison Cawthorn (left), 26, in a car with his close aid and staffer Stephen Smith, 23 (right)
The camera pans to Smith who films himself reaching his hand over and into Cawthorn's crotch
Cawthorn sits in the driver's seat and says, 'I feel the passion and desire and would like to see a naked body beneath my hands'
The complaint calls for an investigation into a slew of behaviors that, the group alleges, has put Cawthorn firmly on the wrong side of a host of House Rules.
Among the many allegations is the claim that Cawthorn provided thousands of dollars in loans and gifts to Smith
Among the many allegations is the claim that representative for North Carolina's 11th district provided thousands of dollars in loans and gifts to Smith, a staff member, with whom, the complaint states, he is engaged in an improper relationship characterized by steamy postings on social media and so close that the staffer joined Cawthorn on his honeymoon to Dubai in April 2021.
According to the filing Cawthorn has provided free housing, travel and loans to Smith, none of which have been declared or repaid.
The complaint also requests an investigation into the nature of Cawthorn's relationship with Smith stating that the junior member of staff lives with Cawthorn.
A campaign payment to Smith submitted in Cawthorn's FEC filing's and attached to the complaint gives Cawthorn's Hendersonville North Carolina house as Smith's home address and DailyMail.com has separately verified that Smith is indeed registered as living there.
In addition to this living arrangement the filing claims that, 'various social media postings by them indicate a personal relationship between them, separate and apart from the professional relationship of employer and employee.'
In fact, according to the ethics complaint, Smith's relationship with Cawthorn is so close that the younger man joined Cawthorn on his honeymoon to Dubai in April 2021.
Approached for comment Cawthorn’s spokesman Luke Ball said he could not give any response until he had seen the video.
A picture included in the exhibits filed in support of the call for an ethics investigation appears to show Cawthorn and Smith, poolside. Cawthorn lounges covered with only a towel, his arm draped over Smith who rests his head on his boss's shoulder and places his hand on Cawthorn's hip.
Another picture shows the men enjoying a 'snow day' together with Smith sitting next to Cawthorn on an ATV, his arm placed around Cawthorn's shoulder.
The video is one of several exhibits filed in support of the ethics complaint drafted by political group Fire Madison Cawthorn
Cawthorn, who is confined to a wheelchair following a 2014 car accident, married Cristina Bayardelle, 27, in April 2021, just weeks after he had been accused of sexual harassment by a number of former students at Patrick Henry College, the northern Virginia college he attended in 2016 for just one semester.
At the time Cawthorn described marrying the 27-year-old anesthesiologist assistant and CrossFit athlete as, 'the greatest honor, privilege and adventure of my life.'
Cawthorn married Cristina Bayardelle, 27, in April 2021. But eight months later, in December 2021, the couple announced they were divorcing
The pair were married in a private ceremony in front of a large wooden cross, garlanded with flowers. Cawthorn stood with the aid of a walker and exoskeleton to make his vows and kiss his bride.
Bayardelle, originally from Florida, claimed she knew 'he was the one' after just four months of dating.
But eight months later, in December 2021, the couple announced they were divorcing with Cawthorn placing the blame for the split on his elevation to political office.
'When my wife Cristina and I were engaged I was not a member of Congress. I felt called to serve and we both agreed that I should run,' he said in a press statement released at the time.
He claimed they had sought counseling to deal with the 'enormity' of the change his election brought to his life but that ultimately, they had agreed to split when they realized that 'balance was not attainable,' and 'that we had irreconcilable differences between us.'
Records reviewed by DailyMail.com show that Smith was living at Cawthorn's Hendersonville, North Carolina, home throughout the representative's brief marriage.
A Venmo payment history between Smith and Cawthorn, attached to the ethics filing and dating from June 2018 is littered with suggestive messages in the form of notes attached to the payments.
One payment made by Cawthorn to Smith and dated June 17, 2018, reads, 'Getting naked for me in Sweden.'
According to the filing Cawthorn has provided free housing, travel and loans to Smith none of which have been declared or repaid
