One of Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-N.J.) staffers was arrested on Monday for possession of a pistol, shortly before the senator began a marathon speech that was still going as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, with other Democrats regularly chiming in on the Senate floor.
“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,” Capitol Police said in a statement to The Hill.
“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,” they added.
NOTUS first reported the incident of a staffer being arrested after spotting Batts being handcuffed at around 6:29 p.m. ET on Monday.
He was placed in the backseat of a USCP vehicle outside the Senate side of the Capitol, according to their reports.
Booker’s office did not immediately respond to The Hill’s requests for comment on the arrest.
Booker began speaking around 7 p.m. on Monday night and continued overnight, seeking to highlight potential cuts to government services as Republicans and President Trump look to push through tax cuts.
“These are not normal times in our nation,” Booker said at the start of his speech. “And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate. The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent, and we all must do more to stand against them.”
