CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WFLA) -- Former U.S. congressman Madison Cawthorn was arrested in Florida on Wednesday.

The Republican, who represented North Carolina from 2021 to 2023, was charged with failure to appear in Collier County court.

Court records obtained by NBC affiliate WBBH indicate that a warrant was issued for Cawthorn's arrest Wednesday after he missed an arraignment that morning. He was scheduled to appear after being cited by Naples police for driving without a valid license on Aug. 19.

Cawthorn, who lives in Cape Coral, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. He was released from jail "immediately" after being processed, according to a statement attributed to the former congressman.

"Madison keeps a very busy schedule and, due to a scheduling misunderstanding, did not

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