Mike Johnson’s chief of staff entered a not guilty plea at a recent court hearing, facing charges related to drunk driving following an incident that occurred after President Trump’s Congressional address. During a virtual court session, Magistrate Judge Heide Herrmann of the DC Superior Court mandated that Hayden Haynes undergo alcohol and drug screening and refrain from operating vehicles while under the influence, as reported by the Washington Post.
The 35-year-old staffer will remain free until his next court appearance, which is set for May 16. The charges stem from an incident on March 4 when Haynes was involved in a minor collision, backing his Tesla into a stationary Chevrolet Suburban approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the president’s speech.
Capitol Police officers who responded to the scene noted that Haynes appeared unstable when he stepped out of his vehicle. During the interaction with law enforcement, Haynes acknowledged consuming four alcoholic beverages over a four-hour timespan, according to the Washington Post.
Following the incident, Johnson’s office expressed continued support for his chief of staff through spokesman Taylor Haulsee, who stated: “The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police.” “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 continued. “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.”
The court proceedings, which addressed two misdemeanor charges including driving under the influence and operating a vehicle while impaired, concluded with Haynes maintaining his innocence through his not guilty plea.
