McCaul detained at Dulles, acknowledges mistake in mixing alcohol, Ambien

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on Wednesday acknowledged he had been briefly detained at Dulles International Airport earlier this month because airport authorities thought he appeared drunk.

McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, acknowledged in a statement to NewsNation, The Hill's sister network, that he had made a “mistake” in mixing the sleep medication Ambien and alcohol.

"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,” McCaul said in a statement. “Law enforcement officers briefly detained me while I waited for a family member to pick me up.”

McCaul was charged with being intoxicated in public in the Nov. 4 incident at Dulles, according to Crystal Nosal, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

The House Republican, who often travels worldwide to meet with foreign leaders and other officials, thanked law enforcement for their reaction and said he would use the incident to “make myself a better person."

“I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the officers who intercepted me that evening,” McCaul said. “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."

McCaul easily secured his 11th term in the House this November. Members of both chambers returned to Washington this week after the Republicans delivered a trifecta for President-elect Trump.