Capitol Chaos: Johnson's Chief of Staff Nabbed in Late-Night DUI Drama
Paul Riverbank, 3/6/2025Speaker Johnson's chief arrested for DUI after Trump's address, testing loyalty in DC.
The celebration of Trump's congressional address quickly soured Tuesday night when a top House leadership aide found himself in handcuffs – a reminder that Washington's political theater often comes with unexpected intermissions.
I've covered countless late-night scenes on Capitol Hill, but this one stands out. Hayden Haynes, Speaker Mike Johnson's right-hand man, managed to turn a historic evening into a personal debacle when Capitol Police caught him allegedly driving under the influence near the complex. The kicker? He backed into a parked car just as the political world was still digesting Trump's speech.
Having watched Johnson mentor Haynes since 2017, I wasn't surprised by the Speaker's quick defense of his longtime confidant. "He's trusted and respected. And he has my full faith and confidence," Johnson told us reporters Wednesday morning, his voice carrying that distinctive Louisiana steadiness even as his office scrambled to contain the fallout.
The timing couldn't have been worse. There stood Johnson, barely an hour earlier, perched behind Trump during one of Congress's most ceremonial evenings. Then his chief of staff – the same man who ran his 2016 campaign and stuck with him through his unexpected rise to Speaker last October – ends up in the back of a police cruiser.
Capitol Police summed it up with their typical brevity: "A driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11:40 p.m. We responded and arrested them for DUI." But anyone who's spent time covering Congress knows there's always more to these stories.
The incident cast an awkward shadow over what Johnson's team had hoped would be their victory lap. Just hours before, the Speaker had been making the rounds on news networks, blasting Democrats for what he called shameful behavior during Trump's address. Now his own team's conduct was grabbing headlines.
Taylor Haulsee, Johnson's spokesperson, tried emphasizing the decade-long trust between the Speaker and Haynes. But in Washington's unforgiving spotlight, even the strongest relationships get tested. I've watched countless staffers weather similar storms – some survive, others don't.
What makes this particularly fascinating is Johnson's unwavering support. In a town where loyalty often evaporates at the first sign of trouble, the Speaker's immediate backing of Haynes suggests either remarkable personal faith or a calculated decision to avoid further disruption to his already challenging speakership.
Whether this becomes a footnote in congressional history or the beginning of yet another Capitol Hill staff shake-up remains to be seen. But it serves as a sobering reminder that in Washington, personal missteps can quickly overshadow political triumphs – even on nights meant for making history.
