Top Republican Michael McCaul was arrested at the airport for “mixing Ambien with alcohol.”
The shocking event took place two weekends ago at Dulles International Airport, according to the lawmaker who chairs the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“Two weekends ago I made a mistake – a mistake for which I take full responsibility,” McCaul, R-Texas, said in a statement confirming the incident to DailyMail.com.
‘I missed a flight to Texas and became disoriented at the airport. This was the result of a bad decision I made to mix an Ambien – which I took to sleep on the upcoming flight – with some alcohol. Law enforcement officers briefly detained me while I waited for a family member to pick me up.”
A spokesperson said McCaul is taking the medication because he is a “nervous flyer.”
Top Republican Michael McCaul was stopped at the airport for ‘mixing ambien with alcohol’
In his position, the chairman travels frequently to meet world leaders at home and abroad.
He was boarding a flight to Texas, where he lives with his family, when he was detained for being disoriented.
The congressman also reportedly locked himself out of his own cell phone during the incident.
He added in the statement that he hopes the incident will make him a better person.
“I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the officers who intercepted me that evening.”
McCaul during a meeting with the Dalai Lama (R) at his residence in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh state, India, in June 2024
Taiwanese Presidential Office shows Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (R) posing with a hat received from McCaul on May 27, 2024
“This incident does not reflect who I am and who I aspire to be. As a human being I am not perfect. But I am determined to learn from this mistake and, God willing, make myself a better person,” he continued.
In recent months, McCaul has traveled to India and Taiwan to promote diplomatic ties between the U.S. and foreign countries.
He has a limited term as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, but can request a waiver from the leadership of the House of Representatives to extend his term.
House Republicans just held leadership elections on Wednesday, where they unanimously re-elected Mike Johnson as their leader.
Trump endorsed Chairman Mike Johnson on Wednesday ahead of the leadership election
He will still need to solidify his support for his members before a full vote in the House of Representatives on January 3, 2025. Some hardline Republicans remain unconvinced that he should lead them again this next Congress.
The other current Republican leaders in the House of Representatives, Steve Scalise and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, will also remain in their positions after Republicans voted to keep them in power.
Johnson’s victory comes after Trump joined lawmakers at the Hyatt on Wednesday morning before meeting President Joe Biden at the White House.
Trump told Republicans he supports “100 percent” in retaining Johnson’s presidency. ‘This is a great guy. I support him all the way,” Trump said.