U.S. Capitol Police arrested a staffer for Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) for allegedly carrying a firearm on Capitol grounds after failing to go through security.
“Yesterday afternoon a Member of Congress led an IDed staff member around security screening at the Hart Senate Office Building. Later that evening, outside the Senate Galleries, the IDed staff member — who is a retired law enforcement officer — told our officers he was armed,” a Capitol Police representative said in a statement, according to the New York Post.
The arrest occurred as the New Jersey lawmaker kicked off a 19+ hour filibuster to protest policies linked to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, focusing on issues like Medicaid cuts and environmental deregulation.
WATCH: Senator Cory Booker Has Complete MELTDOWN On Senate Floor
Per Just the News:
The staff member, Kevin A. Batts, was not licensed to carry his firearm on the grounds.
Police said: “All weapons are prohibited from Capitol Grounds, even if you are a retired law enforcement officer, or have a permit to carry in another state or the District of Columbia.”
The arrest follows two prior firearm-related incidents in recent months involving congressional staff members.
Congress is investigating the security incidents, one of which allegedly occurred on the days when President Donald Trump made his speech to a joint session of Congress this year, Just the News previously reported.
Cory Booker staffer arrested for carrying gun on Capitol grounds as senator holds floor for more than 17 hours https://t.co/QUN71a1QtC pic.twitter.com/exWhEND5fT
— New York Post (@nypost) April 1, 2025
Cory Booker snuck an armed employee into Capitol Hill.
Of course, the staffer should not need to be “licensed” to carry. Rights do not require a permission slip.
Unfortunately, Sen. Booker does not agree.They force laws down upon you that they happily break themselves: https://t.co/F1ECNVep6W pic.twitter.com/58NylS6ETT
— National Association for Gun Rights (@NatlGunRights) April 1, 2025
From the New York Post:
Jeff Giertz, a spokesperson for Booker, responded in a statement: “Senator Booker’s office employs a retired Newark police detective as a New Jersey-based driver who often accompanies him to events. We are working to better understand the circumstances around this.”
It’s unclear whether Booker escorted Batts “around security.” In a 2022 Facebook reel, the senator had referred to the staffer as one of his “best” friends.
The former Newark police officer has been a fixture of Booker’s political life since at least 2014, per social media posts, including one in which Booker affectionately calls him “The Batt Man.”
“Kevin Batts has been a friend and team member since 2006 when I became [Newark] mayor and even before. I so deeply appreciate his steadfast friendship, incredible dedication to Newark and now his service to the state,” Booker posted on Instagram in January 2016.
“Kevin was raised in Columbus Homes projects in Newark, then spent 6 years in the United States army reserves [sic] and then joined the Newark Police Department and became a detective in 2004. In 2006, he joined my security detail as a member of Newark’s executive protection unit. In 2013 he joined my Senate staff. I am truly blessed by his friendship and loyal hard work.”
