The chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Hayden Haynes, was arrested for drunk driving on Tuesday night.
The arrest came shortly after President Trump wrapped up his speech to a joint session of Congress. Johnson sat directly behind Trump throughout the boisterous address, which ran for almost two hours.
About 45 minutes after Trump was done speaking, Haynes backed into a parked vehicle near the Capitol around 11:40 p.m.
NBC News was first to report the incident.
Haynes was arrested for driving under the influence and released with a citation.
"A driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11:40 p.m.," the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement to NBC News. "We responded and arrested them for DUI.”
Haynes has worked as chief of staff to Johnson for almost a decade, long before the Louisiana Republican rose from obscurity almost overnight to become the House Speaker in 2023.
The case against Haynes is being prosecuted by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwab, a Democrat, instead of the Trump-aligned U.S. Attorney in D.C., Eric Martin. While the U.S. attorney prosecutes most crimes in the capital, DUI offenses are an exception.
Haynes' arrest came after a rowdy evening in the House chamber, as Democrats repeatedly interrupted Trump's remarks about a new "golden age" in America.
Within minutes of beginning his speech, Trump was heckled by Democrat Rep. Al Green (TX), who was then expelled by Johnson in a dramatic scene. The House formally voted to censure Green on Thursday.
Johnson, known for his mild, socially conservative demeanor, said his confidence in Haynes is intact despite his arrest.
“The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police,” spokesperson 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,” Haulsee added. “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.”
Meanwhile, Johnson affirmed his support for Haynes when asked about it directly Wednesday.
“I’ve worked with him. He’s trusted and respected. And he has my full faith and confidence,” he told Politico.
