Hayden Haynes, the chief of staff to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson who was arrested for DUI after Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress last week, couldn’t complete a field sobriety test because he was so unstable, and in his jail cell dropped a full urine sample cup into the toilet.
Those are among the details in an affidavit from the arresting officer, which Politico published Monday.
According to the affidavit, Haynes, who was driving his white Tesla sedan, twice hit a black Chevy Suburban.
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The responding officer, after making Haynes park the car, noticed he was “unsteady” when he got out. After asking for Haynes' license and registration, the officer said he “had an unsteady walk and fell into the passenger seat” of his car.
Haynes “had difficulty trying to get his registration of his vehicle and was slurring his words when voice activating his vehicle to open the glove compartment,” according to the document.
Haynes, who told the officer he had had four drinks in four hours, “needed assistance when keeping his balance to stand still” and “had a strong odor consistent of alcohol emanating from his breath.”
Prior to the field sobriety test, Haynes needed help putting his glasses in his pocket, the affidavit states. And during the test, he was reminded “multiple times” to follow the pen light with his eyes.
That test couldn’t be completed, it goes on, due to Haynes’ “constant swaying left to right, and leaning forward.”
After being arrested and brought in for processing, Haynes was in his cell providing a urine sample when he dropped the full cup into the toilet, the affidavit continues. He ultimately wasn’t able to provide any urine sample.
After learning of Haynes’ arrest, Johnson has publicly supported him.
“The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police,” Johnson spokesperson Taylor Haulsee said in a statement last Wednesday to 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,” he added. “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.”
Haynes has been Johnson’s chief of staff since Johnson took on the role in October 2023. In 2016, Haynes was Johnson’s campaign manager when he ran for Congress in Louisiana.
