He didn’t start the fire, but he did pull the alarm.
A growing group of lawmakers and political observers are outraged by Rep. Jamaal Bowman that pulling the fire alarm in the House building was an innocent mistake — with some expressing anger that he wasn’t arrested.
The outspoken socialist New York lawmaker was caught on camera pulling the fire alarm on Saturday, around the time his fellow Democrats were scrambling for a last-minute GOP deal to avoid a government shutdown.
“Congressman Bowman didn’t realize he was going to set off the building alarm because he was in such a rush to make a quick vote,” his chief of staff, Sarah Iddrissu, then wrote social media. “Members of Congress regret any confusion.”
But Bowman’s response to him pulling a clearly labeled fire alarm at the Canaan House Office Building left many scratching their heads — and some of his fiercest GOP critics calling for him to be thrown in jail over the incident.
“Are Congressmen [Jamaal] Bowman will be prosecuted and imprisoned for pulling and setting off a highly dangerous fire alarm system to stop a Congressional vote taking place in DC,” former President Donald Trump said.
Camera footage captures the outspoken socialist representative pulling the alarm. USCP Jamaal Bowman claims his action pulling the fire alarm Saturday was an innocent mistake. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
“It’s a very dangerous ‘Obstruction of Official Proceedings’, just like the one used against our J-6 detainees. In fact, his actions could have been worse.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) echoed similar sentiments.
“Jamaal Bowman must be treated the same as the Jan 6 defendant. He’s a school principal,” Greene said at X, previously on Twitter.
“He knows exactly what it means to pull the fire alarm. He did it while the Dems were trying to adjourn for the Senate and the Dem whip had just called for a motion to adjourn.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene compares the actions of Jamaal Bowman to the actions of the mob on January 6, 2021.Getty Images
Jamaal Bowman must be treated the same as the defendant Jan 6.
He is a school principal. He knew exactly what it meant to pull the fire alarm.
He did it while the Dems were trying to adjourn for the Senate and the Dem whip had just called for a motion to adjourn.
1/2 https://t.co/jlZ2TBpvcw
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) October 1, 2023
Donald Trump Jr. also evoked those charged over the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol when calling Bowman.
“If they don’t charge Rep Bowman, with a felony for endangering their lives in the capitol & obstructing congressional proceedings then they better let every J6er rot in jail for a non-violent offense with an apology & the right to f—ing compensation now!” he smokes
If they don’t charge Rep Bowman, with a felony for endangering their lives in the capitol & obstructing congressional proceedings then they better let every J6er rotting in jail for a non-violent offense come out with an apology & compensation now! pic.twitter.com/Cpc2su2VJP
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 30, 2023
Kevin McCarthy on Saturday morning gave Democrats a last-minute offer to keep the government lights on until Nov. 17.REUTERS
Obstructing official government proceedings is illegal under federal law punishable by a fine and “not more than 20 years.”
The House Administration Committee’s investigation into the incident is ongoing, and Bowman confirmed that he has sat down for questioning with Capitol Police.
Bowman’s withdrawal of the fire alarm comes as Democrats desperately use tactics to delay a vote on the Republican stopgap spending bill, with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (Brooklyn/Queens) used his privilege to make a speech and force a vote on the motion to adjourn. .
He insisted to reporters afterwards that he pulled it thinking it would open the door – and denied that he was trying to withhold votes.
“I was in a hurry to vote, I was trying to get through the door. I thought the alarm would open the door,” he said. “I did not mean to cause confusion. . . I didn’t know it was going to hit the whole building.”
He added: “I want to be very clear, this is not me, in any way, trying to delay the vote. It was the other way around – I tried immediately to get the vote, which I eventually did.”
Not everyone buys it.
A lawmaker, Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), posted a stock image of a fire alarm and joked “I’m going to flush the toilet.”
“This is not confusing at all,” former Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) chimed in. “There is a push bar on the door under the sign.
“Members of Congress see these signs all the time and know exactly what they mean. I can’t imagine thinking it had anything to do with the pull of the fire alarm on the wall,” he continued. “Stop excusing his carelessness.”
This is not confusing at all. There is a push bar on the door under the sign. Members of Congress see these signs all the time and know exactly what they mean. I can’t imagine that it has anything to do with the pull of the fire alarm on the wall. Stop forgiving his carelessness. https://t.co/h1lp5tQK4q
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) October 1, 2023
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) posted a video showing his verbal altercation with Bowman in March, writing: “In case you missed it, this is the same stable individual who pulled the fire alarm today at the Capitol during the vote.”
A journalist, Mona Salama, likened the chaos inside the chambers of Congress on Saturday to an episode of TV’s “The Office” in which delinquent salesman Dwight Schrute held a fire drill.
“Today’s home in a nutshell,” he wrote.
In case you missed it, this is the same stable of individuals who pulled the fire alarm today at the Capitol during the vote. https://t.co/9IFpxKYH0a
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) October 1, 2023
Matthew Foldi, a political reporter for The Spectator, claimed that, “Jamaal Bowman is a criminal who deliberately obstructed Congress. My question is, did he do this as a solo mission or at the behest of someone else?”
John Hasson, a writer for Townhall, noted that Cornerstone Academy for Social Action in the Bronx, where Bowman once served as principal, threatened to suspend or expel students who defiantly pulled the fire alarm.
Jamaal Bowman is a criminal who willfully obstructs Congress
The question I have is, is he doing this as a solo mission or at the behest of someone else? https://t.co/k2ZKuyeyZT
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) September 30, 2023
Still, some Democrats and liberal pundits attacked Bowman’s defense.
“If you’re a politician or pundit who condemned Jamaal Bowman for sounding the fire alarm but said nothing last week when Paul Gosar called General Milley a ‘fornication-promoting’ and ‘quisling’ traitor who deserves to be hanged… well, sorry me if I don’t take your curse seriously,” wrote MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan.
If you’re a politician or pundit who condemned Jamaal Bowman for sounding the fire alarm but said nothing last week when Paul Gosar called General Milley a ‘fornication-promoting’ and ‘quisling’ traitor who deserves to be hanged… well, forgive me if I do not take your curse seriously.
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) October 1, 2023
“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 normally open exit doors in the building were suddenly closed,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“I’ll be honest, it doesn’t really make sense to me – the explanation,” replied host Jake Tapper.
AOC rushes defensive back Jamaal Bowman. Both are generally seen as members of the more hard-left House Democratic caucus. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Ocasio-Cortez also slammed Republicans for refusing to punish Rep. The scandal-plagued George Santos (R-NY) is accused of lying to House investigators among other violations.
“[Bowman] is a shame He released a statement last night. He apologized,” he said. “[Republicans] protecting someone who not only committed wire fraud, not only defrauded veterans, not only lied to congressional investigators, but openly bragged about it.”
Santos concluded Bowman with a public service announcement explaining what fire alarms do and why not trigger them unnecessarily.
“PSA: especially to all boys and girls who are students at Cornerstone Academy for Social Action because your principal may not teach you,” Santos posted on social media with a video explanation of the fire alarm.
PSA: especially to all the boys and girls who are students at Cornerstone Academy for Social Action because your principal may not be teaching you. pic.twitter.com/bgXuEwTobm
— Rep. George Santos (@RepSantosNY03) September 30, 2023
Investigation into the actions of Rep. Jamaal Bowman running.Getty Images
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) seized on Sunday’s snafu to shift blame to Republicans for bringing the country to the brink of a shutdown.
“[Democrats] going so far as to pull the fire alarm to not try to get the bill [sic],” McCarthy told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “Democrats are still united, but they don’t want the bill.”
Ultimately, the House approved the spending patch in a 335-91 vote and the package moved on to clear the Senate and get President Biden’s signature.
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