From Staff Reports

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-Hendersonville, is accused of being slow to respond — and switching gears — following his alleged tardiness in condemining Russia’s invasion of Urkaine and, instead initally, calling for prayers and verbally attacking President Joe Biden.

However, after catching much flak from his critics and some constituents, Cawthorn as of Feb. 25 is saying that the (Russian) milititary incursion that brought alarm and swing action from Western powers is “unjustifiable and dangerous.”

Initially after the invasion on Feb. 24, Cawthorn tweeted, “Pray for the people of Ukraine; their country is under attack. Pray for the United States; we have no leader in the White House.” He later added in a tweet, “Do NOT lurch into war.”

Earlier on the morning of Feb. 24, Cawthorn had tweeted, “This would never have happened if President (Donald) Trump were in the White House right now.”

Cawthorn also had said he agreed with Trump, when he called Russian President Vladimir Putin “smart” and a “genius” for his decision to invade Ukraine, a former Societ country on Russia’s southern border.

The Daily Planet contacted Cawthorn’s office on Feb. 25, seeking further comment, but did not hear back from anyone by the newspaper’s mid-morning Feb. 28 deadline.