Two days after Rep. Far left Jamaal Bowman set off a fire alarm in the House office building, the Bronx and Westchester lawmaker set off a stark warning as he called on his colleagues to come forward Monday.
The 47-year-old’s team circulated a discussion memo for fellow Democrats that referred to the Republican lawmaker as a “Nazi” — as Brooklyn and Staten Island GOPer Nicole Malliotakis introduced a resolution to expel Bowman from the House over the stunt.
The resolution is unlikely to pass, as it requires the support of two-thirds of the chamber and Republicans currently hold a four-seat majority. But that didn’t stop Bowman from pulling out the swastika card.
“I believe Congressman Bowman when he says this was an accident,” read the offending quote. “Republicans need to focus their energy on the Nazis of their party before anything else.”
Nicole Malliotakis argues that Congress should expel her Empire State colleagues.Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post
Bowman’s office later tried to retract what was said and Democrats claimed his staff had slipped in Nazi references without his knowledge.
“I just realized that in our messaging guide, there is an inappropriate use of the term Nazi without my permission,” he said. write at X, formerly Twitter.
“I condemn the use of the term Nazi without its proper definition. It is important to specify the term Nazi to refer to members of the Nazi party & neo-Nazis.”
Bowman’s office sent this guide to the House Dem’s office, looking for social media backup on the fire alarm situation.
One suggested objection: “Republicans need to focus their energy on the Nazis of their party before anything else” pic.twitter.com/4gsQeMIRsR
— Max Cohen (@maxpcohen) October 2, 2023
Bowman’s office did not immediately respond to questions about the staff member who added the allegedly impermissible Nazi reference.
Michael Gerald, Bowman’s only declared challenger for the 2024 Democratic primary in New York’s 16th District, called the congressman’s actions and statements “the height of stupidity.”
“To use that kind of language is catastrophic,” Gerald told The Post, adding that he believed Bowman may have released the talking points “to avoid his personal lack of moral judgment.”
“He heard, as we all did going to school, ‘Don’t pull the fire alarm,'” he continued, noting Bowman must have “presided over a lot of fire drills” as a former high school principal.
As a former New Jersey state trooper, Gerald also said it was “grossly irresponsible and derelict” to flee the scene.
Malliotakis introduced the measure with about a dozen co-sponsors, arguing that Bowman deserved punishment for interfering with official proceedings.
“It is not just the act of pulling the fire alarm. It was during the official proceedings. That’s the same thing they did after the individuals who walked into the Capitol on January 6,” the Republican told “Fox and Friends” Monday.
Jamaal Bowman’s team suggests he was confused by a sign when he pulled the fire alarm.Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post
His team also repeated Bowman’s repeated claims that he had made an “honest mistake” and been thrown out by “misleading signage.”
The image shows the alarm Bowman pulled clearly marked with the word “FIRE” — and sits next to two signs that provide clear details on how to open the emergency doors in the Cannon House Office Building.
“Emergency Exit Only!” read the signs, which Bowman only had to turn 90 degrees to the right to see. “Push until the alarm sounds (3 seconds). The door will open in 30 seconds.”
Surveillance footage shows progressive congressmen sounding the alarm.USCP
“MAGA Republicans have used this as an opportunity to distract from their attempts to shut down the government and to minimize the January 6 uprising,” Bowman’s memo further stated.
Bowman’s activation of the alarm came amid a successful scramble Saturday to avoid a government shutdown, which was averted minutes before the 11:59 p.m. deadline.
Lawmakers passed a stopgap spending bill that keeps federal operations open for another six weeks.
New York representatives are first sworn into Congress in 2021.Getty Images
Bowman’s talking point memo suggests he was given the text of the bill about 15 minutes before the scheduled vote.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) stalled by speaking on the floor for 52 minutes while members of his caucus scrutinized the bill for objectionable material.
In the end, only one Democrat, Mike Quigley of Illinois, voted against the bill, which passed the House 335-91.
Marjorie Taylor Greene claims there was a double standard between the way the January 6th Capitol rioters and Jamaal Bowman were treated.AP
“I’m just trying to get my vote out,” Bowman said at the time. “The door that is usually open does not open. I don’t mean to cause confusion. I didn’t know it would affect the whole building. I think it will help me open doors.”
Republican critics like Malliotakis have emphasized that obstructing official proceedings is against federal law punishable by a fine and “no more than 20 years.”
“It is an extreme reach on the part of MAGA Republicans to assert that Rep. Bowman intended to harm or destroy anyone or anything. The opposite is true: he’s trying to do his job,” Bowman’s memo added as a suggestion.
A handful of Democrats have come to Jamaal Bowman’s defense.Rod Lamkey – CNP
“I think there’s something to be said — the government is going to shut down. There is a voting clock that is running down. The exit door that is usually open in the building suddenly closed,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
Jeffries remained silent on the matter over the weekend, arguing that he was waiting to see security camera footage of the ordeal.
Bowman sat down for an interview with Capitol Police, who said Monday it was still investigating that thing. The House Administration Committee’s investigation into the incident is also underway.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
