A staff member working for Sen. Cory Booker found himself in legal trouble after bringing a firearm into the U.S. Capitol complex on Monday night.
According to Fox News, Kevin A. Batts, a 59-year-old special assistant to Sen. Booker, was arrested for carrying a pistol without a license after the New Jersey Democrat escorted him around a security checkpoint at the Capitol.
The incident unfolded when Batts, a retired Newark police detective, voluntarily informed Capitol Police officers about being armed while outside the Senate Galleries. All weapons are prohibited on Capitol grounds, regardless of an individual's status as a retired law enforcement officer or possession of permits from other jurisdictions.
Batts's relationship with Booker dates back to 2006 when the senator served as mayor of Newark. The retired detective previously worked as part of Booker's security detail in Newark's executive protection unit before joining his Senate staff in 2013.
Booker's office acknowledged the situation through spokesperson Jeff Giertz, who explained that Batts serves as the senator's New Jersey-based driver. The office expressed their commitment to investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In previous years, Booker publicly praised Batts's dedication and service. The senator once shared that Batts grew up in Newark's Columbus Homes projects and served six years in the United States army reserves before joining the Newark Police Department.
The arrest highlights growing concerns about security screening procedures at the Capitol. Recent months have witnessed multiple instances where proper protocols for security inspections appeared to have been overlooked.
Capitol Police emphasized in their statement that members of Congress cannot circumvent security measures by escorting staff members around checkpoints. This incident has drawn attention to the enforcement of security protocols, even for those accompanying elected officials.
The event occurred during a significant moment for Booker, who was in the midst of delivering one of the longest floor speeches in Senate history. His marathon address has already secured him the fourth-longest speaking record in the chamber.
Booker's historic speaking engagement reached notable milestones during this security incident. His speech surpassed Sen. Robert La Follette's 1908 record of 18 hours and 23 minutes.
The New Jersey senator now approaches Sen. Ted Cruz's 21-hour and 19-minute speech against Obamacare from 2013. Should Booker continue speaking, he could potentially break Sen. Strom Thurmond's all-time record of 24 hours and 18 minutes set in 1957.
These developments have created an unusual juxtaposition between Booker's legislative achievement and his staff member's legal troubles. The timing has drawn additional scrutiny to both the security incident and the senator's office.
Kevin A. Batts faces charges for carrying a pistol without proper licensing in the Capitol complex, where weapons are strictly prohibited. The incident has exposed potential vulnerabilities in Capitol security protocols and raised questions about the practice of lawmakers escorting staff members past checkpoints. The arrest occurred despite Batts's law enforcement background and his voluntary disclosure of carrying a weapon. His status as a retired police officer did not exempt him from Capitol grounds weapons restrictions, highlighting the strict nature of security measures in place.
