Capitol Police arrested a staffer for Sen. Cory Booker for allegedly carrying a pistol without a license, the department announced Tuesday.
Authorities arrested the staffer, named by Capitol Police as Kevin Batts, Monday evening after Batts told officers outside the Senate galleries he was armed, the department said. Batts had been led by Booker around security screening at a Senate office building earlier in the day, according to the department.
“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 department said.
Lawmakers are given broad leeway to request bypasses of security screening for staffers and guests who accompany them into Capitol buildings, though the department frowns on the practice.
Booker has been giving a marathon speech on the Senate floor in protest of President Donald Trump’s administration and Hill Republicans.
“Senator Booker’s office employs a retired Newark police detective as a New Jersey-based driver who often accompanies him to events,” said Jeff Giertz, a spokesperson for Booker. “We are working to better understand the circumstances around this.”
NOTUS earlier reported the arrest.