Capitol police arrested Mike Johnson's chief executive on Tuesday night and are allegedly driving under the influence.
Hayden Haynes, who has worked with Louisiana Republicans for nearly a decade, was taken into custody about 45 minutes after President Trump gave a speech to a joint Congressional session.
“The driver who retreated into a parked vehicle around 11:40pm last night, we responded to them and arrested them for the DUI,” Capitol police said in a statement.
Law enforcement confirmed that Haynes was the one arrested.
Haynes' arrest was first reported by NBC News.
A Johnson spokesman showed that the House Speaker, who sat right behind Trump during his speech last night, was “confident” in Haynes despite the incident.
“Speakers know the encounters involving his Chief of Staff and Capitol Police last night,” Taylor Halsey said in a statement.
“The speakers have worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his chief of staff throughout his entire tenure in Congress,” Johnson's staff added. “Because of this and the respected reputation among Hayden members and staff, the speaker has full confidence and confidence in his ability to lead Hayden speakers' office.”
When asked about the incident by a Capitol Hill reporter, Johnson expressed his support for his Chief of Staff.
“I. The Speaker of the House said NBC News When asked if he was standing by Haynes.
“I worked with him. He is trusted and respected. And he has my full faith and confidence in me,” Johnson told Politico.
