A powerful House Republican was detained at an airport just outside of Washington, DC after mixing a sedative and alcohol before a flight.
Texas Representative Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was detained by officials at Dulles International Airport on November 4. An airport official confirmed to NBC News that an officer detained McCaul around 9 p.m. and charged him with being drunk in public before releasing him that evening to a driver
McCaul himself confirmed the incident, explaining he mixed the sedative Ambien with alcohol before his flight.
"Two weekends ago, I made a mistake—one for which I take full responsibility. I missed a flight to Texas and found myself disoriented in the airport,” McCaul said in a statement. “This was the result of a poor decision I made to mix an Ambien—which I took in order 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,” he added. “I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the officers who intercepted me that evening.”
The House Foreign Affairs leader said the incident “does not reflect who I am and who I strive to be.”
“As a human, I am not perfect,” the Texas lawmaker added. “But I am determined to learn from this mistake and, God-willing, make myself a better person.”
The Independent has contacted Dulles International Airport for comment.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee, which McCaul oversees, is one of the most powerful in Congress. First elected in 2005, McCaul previously chaired the House Homeland Security Committee.
He faced re-election last week, beating Democratic challenger Theresa Boisseau and earning over 60 percent of the vote, per the Associated Press.
