Hayden Haynes, the chief of staff for House Speaker Mike Johnson, was arrested for suspected drunk driving after hitting a Capitol vehicle following President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, according to two law enforcement sources speaking to NBC News. Johnson’s office also confirmed the incident.
One source said Haynes hit a Capitol vehicle around midnight and was arrested. He was released with a court date. The arrest took place after Trump’s speech on Tuesday, when Johnson was presiding over the House floor, sitting just behind the president, NBC News reports.
U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement, “A driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11:40 p.m. We responded and arrested them for DUI.”
Haynes has been a close and trusted aide to Johnson for years. He has been serving as the chief of staff in the Speaker’s office since Johnson became Speaker in October 2023. Before that, Haynes worked as chief of staff for Johnson’s personal office from 2017 to 2023. He also worked for former Senator David Vitter from 2009 to 2016.
When asked on Wednesday if Johnson was still supporting Haynes, he replied, “I am. I am.”
Johnson’s 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.”
DUI offenses in Washington are handled by the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, led by Brian L. Schwalb. This is different from most crimes, which are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
This distinction matters because Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney for D.C., is a conservative activist who has ties to Republicans on Capitol Hill. He was also involved in spreading conspiracy theories about the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack using video from Capitol Police. Schwalb’s office did not immediately comment on the case.
Last month, Washington police issued an arrest warrant for Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., but Martin’s office did not approve it. Mills had been investigated for an alleged assault, but he said police had helped resolve a private matter.
