Senator Cory Booker staffer arrested for carrying firearm on Capitol grounds, police say

A staffer for New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker was arrested on Monday evening for carrying a firearm on Capitol grounds and after failing to go through security, according to the U.S. Capitol Police. 

“Yesterday afternoon a Member of Congress led an IDed staff member around security screening at the Hart Senate Office Building,” Capitol Police said in a statement on Tuesday, according to NOTUS. “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 staff member, Kevin A. Batts, was not licensed to carry his firearm on the grounds. 

Police said: “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 arrest follows two prior firearm-related incidents in recent months involving congressional staff members. 

Congress is investigating the security incidents, one of which allegedly occurred on the days when President Donald Trump made his speech to a joint session of Congress this year, Just the News previously reported. 

A staffer was detained in March for attempted to bring a handgun through a security checkpoint at a house office building on the same day as President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress. 

In December, a Democratic congressional staffer was arrested at a House office building for attempting to bring several rounds of ammunition through a secure entrance and was subsequently fired.