the chief of staff for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was recently arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated.
Hayden Haynes was taken into custody just before midnight on Tuesday evening for allegedly operating a vehicle under the influence. The arrest occurred about an hour after President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress concluded.
Haynes has been with Johnson’s office since 2017, serving as the chief of staff since October 2023, according to public records. He also managed Johnson’s campaign in 2016.
A Louisiana native, Haynes graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree and later earned a graduate degree from Gonzaga University in 2014.
In a statement, Johnson’s office expressed continued support for Haynes, emphasizing the Speaker’s confidence in his ability to lead. “The Speaker is aware of the incident involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police. He has known Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as Chief of Staff throughout his time in Congress,” the statement read. “Because of this longstanding relationship and Hayden’s respected reputation among colleagues and staff, the Speaker has full confidence in his leadership.”
Before the arrest, Johnson appeared on a television program to discuss Trump’s address, criticizing Democrats for their disruptions during the event. He described their actions as shameful and noted that the American public was largely supportive of the President’s message.
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