Washington — The chief of staff for House Speaker Mike Johnson, Hayden Haynes, was arrested late Tuesday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated following President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.
NBC News initially reported on the arrest, indicating that Haynes received a citation to appear in court. Upon inquiry, the U.S. Capitol Police confirmed that a driver was taken into custody after backing into a parked vehicle near the Capitol at approximately 11:40 p.m.
“We responded and arrested them for DUI,” stated police in a report that did not disclose the driver’s identity.
Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, expressed his support for his chief aide during a press briefing on Capitol Hill. His spokesperson, Taylor Haulsee, reinforced this sentiment in an official statement.
“The Speaker is aware of the incident that transpired last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police. The Speaker has worked alongside Hayden for nearly a decade and has confidence in his ability to serve as his Chief of Staff throughout his tenure in Congress. Given this history and Hayden’s respected standing among colleagues and staff, the Speaker maintains full faith in Hayden’s leadership of the office,” said Haulsee.
Haynes has been a dedicated aide to Johnson, acting as his chief of staff since 2017 and previously serving as his campaign manager in 2016.
