News

CawthWatch: Splitsville

By Bill Moss, Published: December 23, 2021

U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, the 26-year-old Hendersonville native who has achieved national prominence for his Trump-supporting views as a freshman member of Congress, announced Tuesday that he and his wife, Cristina Bayardelle Cawthorn, are divorcing.

Cawthorn, who married last April, said in a statement released by his spokesman that the whirlwind of Washington had proved to be more than the marriage could stand.

"When my wife Cristina and I were engaged, I was not a member of Congress," he said. "I felt called to serve and we both agreed that I should run. Our victory was unprecedented. But overnight, our lives changed. That change has been both hectic and difficult, it's neither the pace nor the lifestyle we had planned for. From then outset, we committed to making things work, to fight for our marriage and seek counsel for the enormity of such a transition in life. Together, we realized that balance was not attainable, and that we had irreconcilable differences between us. While it was an enormously difficult decision, Cristina and I have mutually decided to divorce."