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Hayden Haynes, chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson, slurred his speech and was “staggering” when shortly before Capitol Police arrested him after Trump’s speech at the Capitol last week, according to a newly released affidavit.
Haynes was charged today with a driving under the influence of alcohol and operating a vehicle while impaired. He’s due in Superior Court in Washington to be arraigned on April 3. His case will be prosecuted by the D.C. Attorney General’s office.
Haynes crashed his white Tesla sedan into a parked black Chevy Suburban, and an officer stopped him from leaving and told him to park his vehicle, according to an affidavit filed in court today. The reporting officer said that the rear right bumper and rear right quarter panel of the Tesla were scratched, and the rear right taillight was cracked. The Black Chevy suburban had damage to the rear left panel, the officer said.
The reporting officer also said Haynes had an “unsteady walk,” fell into the passenger seat and had trouble trying to get his registration. Haynes was “slurring his words when voice activating his vehicle to open the glove compartment,” the report said. Haynes was “staggering” and had “a strong odor consistent of alcohol emanating from his breath,” and allegedly told the officer he had four drinks within a four hour period.
Haynes had trouble placing his glasses into his pocket before taking a field sobriety test, and an officer had to assist him to keep him from falling to the side, the affidavit said. The test was concluded for safety reasons, and then Haynes was placed under arrest.
Johnson spokesman Taylor Haulsee today referred NBC News to a statement last week that said the speaker was standing by his chief of staff.
“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,” Haulsee said last week. “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.”