“My comments on a recent podcast appearance calling out corruption have been used by the left and the media to disparage my Republican colleagues and falsely insinuate their involvement in illicit activities,” Cawthorn said in a statement without addressing the substance of his own comments directly.

“The left and the media want to use my words to divide the GOP. … I will not back down to the mob, and I will not let them win.”…

Following a closed-door meeting with Cawthorn, McCarthy said Wednesday the freshman lawmaker “lost my trust.” Cawthorn has also faced criticism from the hardline Freedom Caucus, while North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr called him an “embarrassment.”

One key issue McCarthy raised in the meeting was Cawthorn’s problems telling the truth, according to a Republican familiar with the discussion who requested anonymity to discuss the private meeting freely. McCarthy sought to argue publicly that Cawthorn had lied about the cocaine claims, but sources tell POLITICO the freshman firebrand doubled down that he was invited to join a member and his wife for a tryst.