On Monday, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) responded publicly after House Republicans called for major consequences including an investigation by the House Ethics Committee, expulsion from Congress, and even charges after he pulled a fire alarm to delay the vote on the 45-day continuing resolution to fund the government on Saturday.
"I don't know why this has gotten so much attention. I was literally just in a rush to go vote, man! That's all it was!" Bowman said to a Fox News reporter.
"I take responsibility for what I did, you know. But like I said I was in a rush to go vote and, you know, the investigation will sort everything else out," he said, adding that he has spoken with House Minority Leader Hakeen Jefferies (D-NY) about the matter.
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As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, Bowman was caught on camera by Capitol Police pulling the alarm near an entrance thus forcing all staff, lawmakers, and other persons inside the building to evacuate. His efforts, however, seemingly were without consequence given that the House passed the 45-day spending measure on a vote of 335 to 91. The bill will now head to the Senate where the likelihood of a shutdown seems minimal.
This has prompted many to point out that pulling the fire alarm is against the law, more specifically it is a violation of 1512(c)(2) obstruction of an official proceeding.
https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1708188510136496593
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) took to X/Twitter to notify the public that she is calling upon the Department of Justice to bring charges. If Bowman is held to the same standards as the January 6th rioters, then he could face months if not years in prison.
"Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman pulled the fire alarm in the Cannon building this afternoon and interrupted the official proceedings of the House as Republicans worked to keep the government open," she wrote. "I’m calling on the DOJ to prosecute him using the same law they used to prosecute J6 defendants for interfering with an official proceeding."
"The Democrats literally will do anything to shut OUR government down because billions aren’t going to their favorite country: Ukraine," Greene added.
https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1708199874456334697
The Capitol Police released a photo of Bowman in the act which has led lawmakers and conservative influencers to call for his arrest.
https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1708192193993703504
In response to the backlash, Bowman's spokeswoman Emma Simon said, “Congressman Bowman did not realize he would trigger a building alarm as he was rushing to make an urgent vote. The Congressman regrets any confusion.”
https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1708194455835013498
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and other Republican lawmakers are working up a resolution to expel Bowman following the incident.
https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1708197411405893919
Speaker McCarthy has also directed the House Ethics Committee to look into the matter and has called the incident a "new low"
https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1708220146391605293
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