U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican representing Austin, Texas, was briefly detained at the Dulles International Airport outside Washington D.C. earlier this month and charged with being drunk in public, Semafor reported.
McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he is a nervous flier and the episode was a result of a "poor decision" that involved mixing Ambien with alcohol.
His spokesperson told the outlet that McCaul had taken Ambien to help him sleep on the flight, but the combination made him dazed and disoriented. He ended up missing his flight and locking himself out of his phone before being detained by Airport police after assuming he was intoxicated.
McCaul was released shortly after when a family member picked him up. "Two weekends ago, I made a mistake — one for which I take full responsibility," McCaul said in a statement, acknowledging the episode.
"This incident does not reflect who I am and who I strive to be. As a human, I am not perfect. But I am determined to learn from this mistake and, God willing, make myself a better person," he added. "I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the officers who intercepted me that evening
McCaul is among the longest-serving members of the Texas delegation. As well as chairing the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he served as the top Republican on the Homeland Security Committee between 2013 and 2019.
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