Cory Booker staffer arrested for carrying gun on Capitol grounds as senator holds floor for more than 17 hours

Capitol Police arrested a staffer for Sen.Cory Booker who was carrying a gun Monday evening, hours after the New Jersey Democrat kicked off a marathon “filibuster” speech in the upper chamber.“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,” a rep for US Capitol Police said in a statement Tuesday.“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.”The Post reached out to Booker’s office for comment.It’s unclear whether Booker escorted Batts “around security.” In a 2022 Facebook reel, the senator had referred to the staffer as one of his “best” friends.The former Newark police officer has been a fixture of Booker’s political life since at least 2014, per social media posts....