Email reveals Rachel Maddow Show worried that Rep. Cawthorn may ask to come on show if they request comment

The email in question was sent to a Capitol Hill NBC News colleague regarding an Associated Press piece about a group of North Carolina voters that are urging state officials to disqualify the congressman from re-election because he spoke at the "Save America Rally" which preceded the riot of Jan. 6, according to Fox News.

The MSNBC producer, seemingly unaware that the North Carolina congressman's team was copied on the message, asked his news colleague to request comment from Cawthorn, concerned that if a "Maddow" representative asked, "he might ask to come on and explain … don't want to take that risk."

"We are kinda interested in this AP story (below) that just dropped about Rep. Madison Cawthorn. A group of voters in NC is challenging his candidacy based on his ties to the insurrection," the senior "Maddow" producer wrote, according to the email obtained by Fox News Digital.

"1. Do you or any other NBC Hill folks plan to ask him for comment on this story? 2. If not, is that something you guys could do? We don't have a relationship with his office and between you and me are a little worried that if we did inquire he might ask to come on and explain. I know that is HIGHLY doubtful, but don't want to take that risk. Luke Ball (?) I guess is the spox quoted?" The email continued.

In response, the NBC colleague stated that they would contact Cawthorn's representative for them, unaware that his office had been included in the email.

"Asked for comment by Fox News Digital, Cawthorn replied with a statement that MSNBC feared him bursting its 'woke dystopian bubble,'" Fox News wrote.

"Fake news MSNBC doesn't want to 'take the risk' that I'll come on their show and trigger the left with my America First message and burst their woke dystopian bubble," Cawthorn said. "The left doesn't want debate from conservatives, they want silence. And now we have it in writing. Sad!"

His office noted that the Representative would consider appearing on Maddow's show if he was invited.

26-year-old Cawthorn, the youngest member of Congress who currently resides in North Carolina's 11th District, has filed to run for election in the 2022 midterms in the state's recently redrawn 13th District.

A group of North Carolina voters disputing his eligibility argue that he violated the 14th Amendment, which states that no one can serve in Congress "who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress . . . to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same."

The challenge states that Cawthorn's appearance at the Jan. 6 rally just days after he was sworn in "amounted to an insurrection." He claimed that the Democrats did not want the voices of those there heard.

"The Democrats, with all the fraud they have done in this election, the Republicans hiding and not fighting, they are trying to silence your voice," he said. "Make no mistake about it, they do not want you to be heard."

Cawthorn voted against certifying President Joe Biden's victory, but later joined his GOP members of Congress in signing a letter congratulating him on his win.

Cawthorn spokesman Luke Ball told the Associated Press that this small group of voters were "misinterpreting and twisting the 14th Amendment for political gain."