Capitol Incident: Aide Detained with Gun During Senator Booker’s Speech

US Capitol building with large dome and steps

Senator Booker’s aide was arrested with an unlicensed gun on Capitol grounds during the senator’s record-breaking marathon speech against Trump administration policies, raising serious security concerns about how weapons bypass screening procedures.

Quick Takes

Kevin Batts, Senator Cory Booker’s long-time special assistant, was arrested for carrying an unlicensed pistol on Capitol grounds where all weapons are prohibited.
Batts, a retired law enforcement officer, bypassed security screening when a Member of Congress led him around checkpoints before he later informed officers he was armed.
The arrest occurred shortly before Senator Booker began a marathon 25-hour floor speech against Trump administration policies, setting a new Senate record.
This incident follows similar recent security breaches at the Capitol involving firearms, highlighting potential gaps in congressional security protocols.
Capitol Police emphasized that weapons are prohibited on Capitol grounds regardless of permits or retired law enforcement status.

Security Breach Amid Political Drama

Capitol Police arrested Kevin Batts, a special assistant to Senator Cory Booker, for carrying a pistol without a license on Capitol grounds. The arrest took place shortly before Booker began what would become the longest individual speech in Senate history. Batts, who has worked for Booker since November 2013 with a one-year break between 2019 and 2020, was able to bypass standard security screening procedures when a Member of Congress escorted him around checkpoints at the Hart Senate Office Building, according to Capitol Police statements.

The security breach was only discovered later that evening when Batts, who is a retired law enforcement officer, approached officers outside the Senate Galleries and voluntarily disclosed that he was armed. This disclosure resulted in his immediate arrest as all weapons are strictly prohibited on Capitol grounds. The Capitol Police emphasized this rule applies universally, regardless of any permits or retired law enforcement status individuals may hold.

Sen. Cory Booker's aide Kevin A. Batt arrested for having a handgun at the Capitol https://t.co/Ijq80m0Oga pic.twitter.com/SR7tIMiJfa

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 2, 2025

Growing Pattern of Security Concerns

This incident adds to a disturbing pattern of security breaches involving firearms at the Capitol. A similar situation occurred recently when a staffer for Representative Andy Ogles was arrested for bringing a gun onto Capitol grounds. Another incident involved an unspecified man with a gun attempting to enter the Capitol. These repeated breaches highlight potential weaknesses in security protocols, particularly related to the ability of congressional members to bypass security screening for their staff members, raising questions about the effectiveness of current security measures. “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 announced in a statement.

The Washington Examiner sought comments from Booker’s office regarding the arrest, but no response was reported in available sources. The timing of the arrest, occurring just before Senator Booker’s high-profile marathon speech, adds a layer of complexity to an already politically charged atmosphere. Capitol security officials must now address how a congressional aide obtained access to restricted areas while armed, despite clear prohibitions.

Booker’s Historic Senate Marathon

As Batts was being processed on gun charges, Senator Booker began what would become a 25-hour marathon speech on the Senate floor opposing Trump administration policies. Booker declared his intention to “disrupt the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.” While not technically a filibuster of specific legislation, the speech mirrored filibuster tactics to draw attention to Booker’s opposition to the current administration.

During his record-breaking address, Booker criticized various Trump administration policies, including cuts to Social Security and the role of Elon Musk with the Department of Government Efficiency. Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer and other Democratic colleagues supported Booker throughout his marathon effort. When Booker finally concluded, he had surpassed Strom Thurmond’s 1957 filibuster to set a new record for the longest individual speech in Senate history.