A staffer for Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) was arrested for sneaking a gun onto the grounds of the U.S. Capitol without a license.
On March 31, staffer Kevin A. Batts was detained after law enforcement discovered that he had carried a firearm onto the Capitol grounds. According to the U.S. Capitol Police, Booker helped this staff member avoid the security screening to get into the building, allowing him to bring his weapon without being caught. It is unclear whether Booker knew at the time that his staffer was armed.
“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,” the Capitol Police said in a statement obtained by The Hill.
“The staff member, 59-year-old Kevin A. Batts of New Jersey, was arrested for Carrying a Pistol Without a License,” the statement further explained. “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 incident came just before Booker gave a roughly 25-hour performative speech on the Senate floor against President Donald Trump’s policies. Democrats have celebrated this move as the “longest filibuster in U.S. history” — beating a record from another Democrat, the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (D-SC), who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the 1957 Civil Rights Act — despite the fact that Booker was not actually filibustering any legislation, just whining about Trump.
A spokesperson for Booker issued a statement to Fox News about the incident, where they attempted to downplay the situation, claiming: “Sen. 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.”
The National Association for Gun Rights also responded to the incident. While they defended Batts’ right to carry a firearm and decried any law that would require a license, the group also pointed out that Booker has a long history of opposing the Second Amendment, and thus this situation is incredibly hypocritical. The organization specifically highlighted comments from Booker in 2022, where he criticized the Supreme Court for striking down a New York law requiring people to show “proper cause” to receive a concealed carry license.
“Cory Booker snuck an armed employee into Capitol Hill,” the group wrote in a post on X. “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.”
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
