A staff member for Senator Cory Booker faced arrest last year after a pistol was discovered in his possession on Capitol grounds without the required license. The case, however, swiftly and quietly disappeared, leaving a trail of unanswered questions about preferential treatment.
The individual, Kevin Batts, a retired Newark police detective who also serves as a special assistant and driver for the Senator, saw all charges dropped by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia just weeks after his arrest. This outcome is particularly striking given the stringent gun regulations and declared “gun-free” status of the Capitol.
Official statements from Senator Booker’s office explained the dismissal, citing Batts’ active New Jersey retired law enforcement carry permit. Yet, this explanation clashes directly with the U.S. Capitol Police’s own policy, which explicitly prohibits all weapons on Capitol grounds, regardless of permits or retired law enforcement status.
Batts was initially arrested facing multiple charges: carrying a pistol without a license, unlawful activities, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unregistered ammunition. When questioned about the latter three charges, the U.S. Attorney’s office simply reiterated the claim regarding his New Jersey permit, offering no further clarification.
Adding another layer to the situation, a legal defense fund was established for Batts, receiving $6,000 in donations. A significant portion, $5,000, came from Elizabeth Naftali, a prominent Democratic donor with a history of supporting Senator Booker and, notably, a past purchase of artwork from Hunter Biden.
The case stands in stark contrast to a similar incident in 2021 involving another Capitol Hill staffer, Jeffrey Allsbrooks. Allsbrooks, who worked for a non-partisan office, inadvertently brought a loaded handgun through security, triggering a building lockdown.
Despite possessing a valid concealed carry permit from Virginia, Allsbrooks lacked a D.C. license. He faced four criminal charges and ultimately accepted a plea deal requiring community service and a six-month period of good behavior for the case to be dismissed.
The disparity between these two cases – one resulting in dropped charges and no consequence, the other in a plea deal and a criminal record – highlights a troubling double standard. It raises serious questions about fairness and the application of the law within the halls of power.
