When we are young, our future spreads out, undefined, before us. It's difficult to say with any certainty what will happen. We can have a hard time realizing that our present and past actions can have a direct impact on our ultra-plastic futures. It's easy to downplay what we've done. It's easy to get caught up in hope and optimism for the future.

One case study - or cautionary tale - of precisely how detrimental our pasts can be is currently making headlines. USA Today, Buzzfeed News, and CNN are all running detailed stories surrounding the college sexual misconduct of a current United States representative.

As a young congressman poised on the brink of a long, successful career in government, Madison Cawthorn likely didn't think that actions from his college days would come to light in such an inopportune way. Now, these allegations serve to mar his initial days as a newly-elected representative.

The Implications of Past Misconduct on a Successful Public Service Career

During the lead-up to the 2020 election, Cawthorn ran an ultimately successful campaign in support of then-President Trump. Now, he serves as one of the youngest congressmen in years.

Recently, women have come forward to allege that - in college - Cawthorn would make “women uncomfortable with questions of a sexual nature” and, on occasion, touch them in inappropriate ways. Others are stating that Cawthorn was then “known for being aggressive and misogynistic” towards women in his social circles. He would also, according to women currently making public statements, take them on long drives that would end in uncomfortable and inappropriate encounters.

During his campaign, Cawthorn denied each of these misconduct allegations. His team categorically rebuffs all stories that indicate otherwise. However, this wave of new information has invited a storm of new questions about Cawthorn's collegiate behavior. At a time when the young congressman should be concentrating on making moves in his political career, he is having to focus on dealing with this crisis instead.

Here's the thing: Your past history of misconduct will definitely come back to bite you, no matter which professional career you decide to pursue. However, if you decide to go into the public sector, the stakes become exponentially higher—and people will come out of the woodwork to report on your alleged past actions before you know it. Unflattering adjectives, stories of your misconduct, and any evidence that people have will come into the limelight.

That's why you need to work now. If you're considering a career in public service, you need to deal with any allegations of misconduct now, before they balloon out of your control.

Rely on Joseph D. Lento to Help You Clear Your Reputation Today

At the Lento Law Firm, we believe that your past shouldn't hold you back from the good that you can do in your future. By working with Joseph D. Lento, you can deal with the repercussions of any past misconduct in a clean way so you can move forward in pursuit of your goals. Call our Firm today at 888-535-3686 to learn more about what we can do for you.