Sen. Booker staffer arrested at Capitol on Monday

A congressional staffer for Sen. Cory Booker was arrested for carrying a pistol without a license after being escorted into the U.S. Capitol by a member of Congress and allowed to bypass security by the New Jersey Democrat himself, Fox News has learned.

The incident occurred on Monday night when Booker led the aide around a U.S. Capitol Police security checkpoint, resulting in the arrest of 59-year-old Kevin A. Batts of New Jersey. Batts, a retired law enforcement officer, was found to be carrying a firearm without a license, a violation of Capitol Grounds regulations. All weapons are prohibited from the Capitol, even for individuals with permits to carry in other states or the District of Columbia.

Capitol Police officers are required to conduct security screenings on all individuals, regardless of their affiliation with a member of Congress. In this case, the staffer was identified as a “special assistant” to Sen. Booker on Legistorm, a platform that provides information on lawmakers and their staff.

Booker’s office released a statement in response to the incident, stating that they employ Batts as a New Jersey-based driver who often accompanies the senator to events. They are currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding the security breach.

Batts has a longstanding relationship with Booker, having served as a detective in Newark for 28 years before joining the senator’s security detail in 2006. Booker has praised Batts for his dedication to Newark and his service to the state in various public statements over the years.

The arrest comes as Booker continues to deliver one of the longest floor speeches in Senate history, surpassing the record set by Sen. Robert La Follette in 1908. Booker now holds the fourth-longest Senate floor speech, with plans to break Sen. Ted Cruz’s record of 21 hours and 19 minutes against Obamacare in 2013.

If Booker continues speaking, he is on track to break the all-time record set by Sen. Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against a civil rights bill in 1957. Thurmond, who was a Democrat at the time of his speech, later joined the Republican Party in 1964.

The incident involving Batts highlights a series of security lapses at the Capitol in recent months, raising concerns about the enforcement of proper protocols for screening individuals entering the premises. The U.S. Capitol Police have emphasized the importance of adhering to security measures to ensure the safety of lawmakers, staffers, and visitors.

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report. Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner. Follow Julia’s reporting on Twitter at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.