Capitol Police arrested a staffer for Sen. Cory Booker who was carrying a gun Monday evening, hours after the New Jersey Democrat kicked off a marathon “filibuster” speech in the upper chamber.
“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 rep for US Capitol Police said in a statement Tuesday.
“The staff member, 59-year-old Kevin A. Batts of New Jersey, was arrested for Carrying a Pistol Without a License. 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 Post reached out to Booker’s office for comment.
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.
