‘Highway robbery’: Madison Cawthorn raises suspicions by paying inexperienced buddy $127,111 as top staffer

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Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) appears to be overpaying an underqualified friend to serve on his congressional staff.

Quarterly disbursement statements show Cawthorn’s chief of staff William “Blake” Harp made $31,777.77 in the first quarter of the year, the equivalent of $127,111 annually, despite having no background in government and not much other work experience besides running fireworks stands, reported the Citizen Times.

“One hundred twenty-seven thousand dollars is not exorbitant for a chief,” said another Republican legislative staff member. “It’s highway robbery for anyone for whom it’s their first real job and they bring no discernible skills.” Continue reading.