House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul briefly detained at Dulles airport after appearing drunk

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul admitted on Wednesday that he was briefly detained at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., earlier this month, after appearing intoxicated.

McCaul was not arrested and was not threatening anyone, but had taken the drug Ambien to help him sleep through a flight on his way home to Texas, a spokesperson for the chairman told Semafor. The drug mixed with multiple alcoholic drinks that strengthened its effects and caused him to become disoriented and miss his flight.

The spokesperson said McCaul was approached by police when trying to rebook his flight, per NBC News. However, the police allowed him to use their phone to call a family member, and was released into the family member's custody at the airport.

"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 shared with Just The News. "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." 

"I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the officers who intercepted me that evening," he continued. "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."

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.