Hayden Haynes, who serves as the chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson, was arrested for suspected drunk driving on March 4. This incident occurred shortly after President Donald Trump delivered a joint address to Congress.
Johnson, elected as Speaker of the House in October 2023, was present during Trump’s speech, sitting just behind him along with Vice President J.D. Vance.
Authorities reported that Haynes was taken into custody for DUI after he backed his car into another vehicle parked near the Capitol. He has since been released with a citation requiring him to appear in court.
According to U.S. Capitol Police, the incident happened around 11:40 p.m. when Haynes hit a parked car.
A spokesperson for Speaker Johnson addressed the situation, saying, “The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police. He has worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusts him to serve in this role.” The spokesperson expressed confidence in Haynes’s ability to lead the Speaker’s office.
Haynes has been a notable figure in Washington, D.C., serving as Johnson’s chief of staff since 2017, long before Johnson became Speaker. He has a history of working in politics, previously assisting Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter from 2009 to 2016.
In Washington, D.C., DUI offenses are handled by the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, rather than the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which deals with other criminal matters.
