Speaker’s Top Aide Faces DUI Charge Following Trump’s Address

Police car with flashing red and blue lights.

House Speaker Mike Johnson’s Chief of Staff Hayden Haynes faces a DUI charge after backing into a Capitol vehicle following President Trump’s congressional address, yet the Speaker maintains “full faith and confidence” in his longtime aide’s leadership.

Key Takeaways

Hayden Haynes, chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson, was arrested for alleged drunk driving following President Trump’s address to Congress
The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m. when Haynes backed his car into a parked Capitol vehicle
Despite the arrest, Speaker Johnson continues to have “full faith and confidence” in Haynes, with whom he has worked for nearly a decade
Unlike typical cases on federal property, this DUI offense will be prosecuted by the D.C. Office of the Attorney General rather than the U.S. Attorney’s Office

Arrest Details Following Presidential Address

U.S. Capitol Police arrested Hayden Haynes, the chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson, on suspicion of driving under the influence shortly after President Trump’s joint address to Congress. The incident took place around 11:40 p.m. when authorities responded to a situation involving Haynes backing his vehicle into a parked Capitol car. Following the arrest, Haynes was released with a citation to appear in court at a later date, rather than being held in custody overnight.

The timing of the incident has drawn particular attention as it occurred on the heels of President Trump’s address to Congress, which lasted one hour and 40 minutes and focused on his administration’s initiatives since beginning his second term. As Speaker of the House, Johnson had presided over this significant joint session alongside Vice President JD Vance, making the staff controversy especially prominent in the post-address news cycle.

BREAKING: House Speaker Mike Johnson's chief of staff, Hayden Haynes, was arrested on a DUI charge Tuesday night after President Trump's address to Congress, law enforcement sources say. https://t.co/XQe6KCsmJw

— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) March 5, 2025

Speaker Johnson Stands By Longtime Aide

Despite the legal troubles now facing his top aide, Speaker Johnson has made it clear through his office that he maintains complete confidence in Haynes’ ability to continue leading his staff. Haynes has served as Johnson’s chief of staff since 2017, establishing a professional relationship that spans nearly a decade. This long-standing connection appears to be a significant factor in the Speaker’s decision to continue supporting his chief of staff despite the current circumstances.

“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,” said Johnson spokesperson Taylor Haulsee.

Johnson, who was elected Speaker of the House in October 2023 following a period of Republican leadership turmoil, has relied heavily on Haynes as part of his core team during his transition to the speakership. The statement from his office emphasizes Haynes’ “esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike” as justification for maintaining the current leadership structure despite the legal incident.

Unusual Prosecution Jurisdiction

The case involves an interesting legal wrinkle that distinguishes it from most criminal matters on federal property. While many criminal cases occurring on Capitol grounds would typically fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, DUI offenses in Washington, D.C. are specifically prosecuted by the D.C. Office of the Attorney General. This jurisdictional detail has drawn attention in legal and political circles.

“A driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11:40 p.m. We responded and arrested them for DUI,” said U.S. Capitol Police.

The distinction in prosecuting authority has gained additional significance due to the political connections of Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Martin, who has Republican ties and has reportedly been involved in controversial statements regarding the January 6 Capitol riot, would not have jurisdiction over this particular case. This separation of authority ensures that the prosecution will proceed through standard channels for DUI cases in the District, regardless of the high-profile nature of the defendant’s position.