Hayden Haynes, the chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), was arrested for drunken driving Tuesday night after President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress.
Johnson’s office also confirmed the incident, which included Haynes’ car hitting a Capitol vehicle, two law enforcement sources told NBC News.
A police report revealed the incident happened around midnight. Haynes was arrested and released with a citation to appear in court.
“A driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11:40 p.m.,” the U.S. Capitol Police told NBC News. “We responded and arrested them for DUI.”
Haynes is considered to be a trusted and longtime aide to Johnson.
🚨 BREAKING: House Speaker Mike Johnson’s chief of staff, Hayden Haynes, was arrested for DUI Tuesday night—right after Trump’s speech, per law enforcement sources.
Even Trump’s own folks can’t stomach his rambling nonsense without hitting the bottle.
Will Haynes be fired, or… pic.twitter.com/qhJRJ9C0Sv
— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) March 5, 2025
“The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police,” Johnson spokeperson Taylor Haulsee said in a statement. “The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress. Because of this and Hayden’s esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Hayden’s ability to lead the Speaker’s office.”
DUI offenses are prosecuted by the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, which D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb heads.
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