Washington, D.C. – A staff member for Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) was arrested Monday evening after being found with a loaded firearm on U.S. Capitol grounds, just minutes before the senator began a record-breaking 25-hour speech protesting the Trump administration’s policies.
It turns out Cory Booker employs a former Newark cop, who apprently carries an illegal firearm around Washington, D.C.
The incident has raised questions about security protocols on Capitol Hill and the intentions of the arrested individual, identified as Kevin A. Batts, a longtime aide to Booker.
The illegal firearm on Capitol grounds also raises concerns for Republicans facing violent backlash from the far left over divisive rhetoric by Booker and other Capitol Hill Democrats.
At this time, it is not known if Batts intended to cause harm or shoot up the U.S. Capitol. What we do know is that Senator Booker helped the armed suspect bypass security on Capitol Hill.
According to a statement from the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), Batts, 59, a retired Newark police detective and special assistant to the senator, was apprehended around 6:30 p.m. on March 31, outside the Senate Galleries.
Earlier that day, a member of Congress—reportedly Senator Booker himself—had escorted Batts around a security screening checkpoint at the Hart Senate Office Building. Later, Batts voluntarily informed officers that he was armed, leading to his arrest.
He has been charged with carrying a pistol without a license, a felony offense, as all weapons are strictly prohibited on Capitol grounds, regardless of permits or prior law enforcement status.
Booker’s office confirmed awareness of the incident, with spokesperson Jeff Giertz stating, “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.” The senator has not directly commented on whether he knowingly bypassed security with Batts or on the staffer’s intentions.
As of now, there is no definitive evidence indicating who, if anyone, Batts may have been plotting to target with the loaded firearm.
Capitol Police have not released additional details about his motives, and the investigation remains ongoing. Speculation has swirled due to the timing—coinciding with Booker’s marathon Senate speech decrying President Donald Trump’s agenda—but authorities have not confirmed any connection between the arrest and the senator’s actions. No threats or statements from Batts suggesting a specific target have been made public, leaving the question of intent unanswered.
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of Capitol security following several recent incidents involving weapons. In January 2025, a man was arrested at the Capitol with Molotov cocktails and knives, claiming he intended to kill House Speaker Mike Johnson, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. That case, however, appears unrelated to Batts’ arrest, as no similar declarations or explosive devices were reported in this instance.
Batts, who has served on Booker’s team since at least 2006 and was described by the senator in a 2022 Facebook post as one of his “best friends,” faces serious legal consequences.
Control for thee, but not for me.
The incident has also drawn attention to Booker’s vocal advocacy for stricter gun control laws, creating an ironic backdrop to the arrest of his own staffer. Critics on social media and in political circles have pointed to this contradiction, though no evidence suggests Booker was aware of Batts’ actions.
As the investigation unfolds, questions linger: Was Batts acting alone? Did he have a target in mind, or was the firearm carried for another reason? For now, Capitol Police and Booker’s office have remained tight-lipped, leaving the public and lawmakers awaiting further clarity on this alarming breach of Capitol security.
The incident has not deterred Booker, who completed his historic 25-hour Senate speech on April 1, surpassing the previous record set by Strom Thurmond in 1957. Batts’ case, meanwhile, is expected to proceed through the D.C. court system, with potential implications for both Capitol security policies and the senator’s political narrative.
