Who is Hayden Haynes? Mike Johnson’s chief of staff arrested for DUI after Trump speech
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s chief of staff, Hayden Haynes, was arrested on DUI charge after President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress on Tuesday night, NBC reported, citing two law enforcement sources.
Haynes was arrested after his car struck a Capitol vehicle around midnight.
“A driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11:40 p.m.,” the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement to NBC News. “We responded and arrested them for DUI.”
Mike Johnson’s office confirms the incident –
Johnson’s spokesperson, Taylor Haulsee, confirmed the incident in a statement to NBC News
“The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police,” Haulsee told NBC News. “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.”
Who is Hayden Haynes?
Hayden Haynes, a longtime aide to Speaker Mike Johnson, began his career as the Grassroots Campaign Manager for Sherri Smith. A Louisiana native, Haynes then held various roles for former Senator David Vitter from 2009 to 2016.
In 2016, he played a key role in Mike Johnson’s successful campaign for Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District, serving as both campaign manager and spokesman.
From 2017 to 2023, Haynes worked as chief of staff in Johnson’s personal office. Following Johnson’s election as Speaker in October 2023, Haynes was appointed as chief of staff in the speaker’s office. According to his LinkedIn profile, Haynes holds a degree in politics from Gonzaga University.
