Whereas New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker was inflicting good bother on the Senate ground, one in every of his staffers was getting in some actual bother outdoors the room. Capitol Police led him away in handcuffs over what he tried to usher in the constructing.
A consultant for the U.S. Capitol Police tells The New York Publish {that a} member of Congress led an IDed employees member round safety screening within the Hart Senate Workplace Constructing on Monday, April 1. Nonetheless, later that night, the employees member in query informed officers he was armed.
The staffer was recognized as 59-year-old Kevin A. Batts, a retired Newark regulation enforcement officer and allegedly one in every of Sen. Booker’s greatest buddies, in accordance with a dated social media submit. The 2 had been working collectively since 2014, gaining him the nickname of “The Batt Man.” In an announcement, Booker’s spokesperson informed The Publish Batts was a retired detective who drives for Booker and infrequently involves occasions with him.
Nonetheless, one other submit from Booker suggests the 2 go wayyyy again.
“Kevin Batts has been a pal and group member since 2006 after I turned mayor and even earlier than. I so deeply respect his steadfast friendship, unbelievable dedication to Newark and now his service to the state,” Booker stated in a January 2016 Instagram submit.
On the time of the arrest, Booker was already over 12 hours into his stride towards breaking the late Sen. Strom Thurmond’s filibuster file from 1957. It’s unclear how Batts obtained by safety within the first place however the authorities made it clear the gun was a giant no-no.
“The employees member, 59-year-old Kevin A. Batts of New Jersey, was arrested for Carrying a Pistol With out a License. All weapons are prohibited from Capitol Grounds, even in case you are a retired regulation enforcement officer, or have a allow to hold in one other state or the District of Columbia,” authorities say, per the report.