Top US House aide faces drunk driving charge following presidential speech
US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, speaks to the press at the US Capitol following his closed-door meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, DC, on February 7, 2025. (AFP Photo)
Hayden Haynes, chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson, was arrested for suspected drunk driving after his vehicle struck a Capitol Police car following President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday night, according to law enforcement sources.
The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m. ET when Haynes backed into a parked vehicle near the Capitol complex. U.S. Capitol Police confirmed an arrest for driving under the influence after the collision, though they did not specifically name Haynes in their statement.
Haynes was released with a court citation following the arrest, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Speaker Johnson, who stood behind President Trump during the address earlier that evening, is standing by his longtime aide.
“I am. I am,” Johnson responded when asked by NBC News if he was supporting Haynes.
In a statement, Johnson spokesperson Taylor Haulsee said: “The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police.
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.”
Haynes has been a trusted Johnson ally since October 2023, when he assumed the chief of staff role. He previously served in Johnson’s office from 2017 to 2023 and worked for former Sen. David Vitter from 2009 to 2016.
The case will be handled by the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, led by Brian Schwalb, rather than the U.S. Attorney’s Office. DUI offenses in Washington fall under local jurisdiction, unlike most other crimes in the District.
This jurisdictional distinction is notable given recent controversy surrounding Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney for D.C. Martin, who Trump reportedly wants as the permanent federal prosecutor, has faced criticism for using Capitol Police footage from the January 6, 2021, riot to promote conspiracy theories.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of law enforcement actions involving Capitol Hill figures. Recently, Washington police issued an arrest warrant for Republican Rep. Cory Mills, but Martin’s office did not approve it. Mills, who was investigated for an alleged assault in an apartment building, claimed police helped “resolve a private matter.”
