Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) has pleaded guilty to one count of falsely pulling a fire alarm after claiming that he had activated the alarm mistakenly in his “rush to get to a vote to avoid a government shutdown.”
Bowman set off the alarm in the Cannon House Office Building on Sept. 30 as lawmakers were about to vote on a spending measure to keep the government open. He claimed at the time that the door was usually open for votes, but was closed, and he accidentally activated the alarm, thinking it would open the door.
“I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused,” he said at the time.
Republicans accused Bowman of trying to delay the vote on government funding and obstructing an official proceeding.
Surveillance video released Thursday shows the far-left Democrat removing the warning signs before pulling the fire alarm, and then quickly walking away without even attempting to open the door.
🚨 NEW FOOTAGE: Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman removes warning signs before pulling the fire alarm in a House office building last month pic.twitter.com/dhwOQN2G6y
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 26, 2023
During a hearing in D.C. Superior Court Thursday morning, prosecutors told Magistrate Judge Dorsey Jones that after Bowman pulled the alarm, “he walked past seven uniformed Capitol Police officers without telling any of them that he was the one who pulled the alarm or that there was no fire in the Cannon office building.”
Bowman claimed that he didn’t stop to tell police there was no fire because he didn’t want to be late for the floor votes.
The New York Democrat entered his plea as part of a sweetheart deal with prosecutors that involves a minimal fine and a dismissal of the charge after three months.
Under the deal, Bowman is required to pay a $1,000 fine and write an apology letter to the U.S. Capitol Police chief. In return, prosecutors have agreed to dismiss the charge against Bowman in three months, as long as he breaks no other laws during that time.
Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman says he struck a deal with fellow Democrat D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb to have the fire alarm charges expunged from his record once he pays a fine pic.twitter.com/uzLPqxA3TG
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 26, 2023
The congressman will have to return to court on Jan. 29, 2024, for a hearing to confirm his compliance with the agreement and for the formal dismissal of the charge against him.
Bowman said in a statement Wednesday that he accepts responsibility for his actions: “I am responsible for activating a fire alarm, I will be paying the fine issued, and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped.”
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) secretary for the House Republican Conference, said on X Wednesday that she would introduce a resolution to censure Bowman and remove him from all committee assignments for the remainder of the 118th Congress for activating the alarm.
Capitol Police have concluded their investigation into Rep. Bowman and found his action of pulling the fire alarm in Cannon to be illegal.
I am introducing a resolution to Censure Rep. Bowman and remove him from all Committee assignments for the remainder of the 118th Congress. pic.twitter.com/5diNOeCYn6— Representative Lisa McClain (@RepLisaMcClain) October 25, 2023