Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) never fails to create a spectacle, especially when he aims for Republicans. During a rally on Friday, Raskin, alongside leftist figureheads like Bill Nye “The Science Guy,” NIH’s former Director Francis Collins, and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), attempted to criticize Republican policies. The event, as reported by The Hill, was a protest against President Trump’s budget cuts affecting research funding.
Raskin tried to take a swipe at Republicans over Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) but ended up embarrassing himself: “You know, I noticed that the Speaker’s Chief of Staff was picked up on DUI the other night,” Raskin quipped. “They’re not into DEI, but they love DUI. We gotta stop those DUI hires on Capitol Hill.”
For clarity, recent reports revealed that House Speaker Mike Johnson’s Chief of Staff, Hayden Haynes, was arrested for DUI shortly after President Trump’s address to Congress. U.S. Capitol Police confirmed a driver backed into a parked vehicle near the Capitol late at night and was taken into custody.
Johnson’s spokesperson, Taylor Haulsee, defended Haynes in a statement:
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. 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.
Raskin’s failed attempt to criticize Republicans was met with swift backlash on social media, as users highlighted the Democrats’ own DUI incidents, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Here are a few reactions:
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Yeah cause none of you dems have ever had a dui….or come into congress drunk…or done worse stuff like sex scandals that you paid off with hush money. Best to clean up your act first.
— The Saltine American (@MariaEileene)
March 7, 2025 -
Why isn’t he charged for destroying evidence from J6 Committee? All J6 Committee should be in jail. They lied and had network come in and create a video to fit their narrative. It was all setup.
— Robert Mahar (@Rob_Mahar07)
March 7, 2025 -
Raskin is a POS who should also be in prison.
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman)
March 8, 2025 -
Says the guy from the party that picked a VP for Harris that had a DUI. Remember Walz had a DUI – and he didn’t stop for the officer.
— SKDoubleDub (@SKDoubleDub33)
March 7, 2025 -
State Sen. Dave Min (D-CA) Date: May 2, 2023 Min, a California state senator running for Congress in the 47th Congressional District (a Democratic-leaning seat), was arrested for DUI in Sacramento. He was pulled over for running a red light with his headlights off, showing…
— Boodro (@Boodro79)
March 7, 2025 -
Ted Kennedy unavailable for comment.
— Tims__025 (@025Tims)
March 7, 2025 -
In his mind, it probably sounded good. Raskin comes off like a cringy college freshman trying way too hard to be witty. Deflecting from the absolute disaster of DEI hiring with a lame DUI joke? Pathetic. This is the best the Democrats have?
— Chaotic Genius (@realchaosgenius)
March 7, 2025
