Staff Reports
In a shocking turn of events, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for falsely activating a fire alarm at a congressional building on Capitol Hill. But don’t worry, he assured reporters that he wasn’t trying to disrupt any official government proceedings with his actions. Oh, well in that case, carry on!
Rep. Jamaal Bowman Pleads Guilty in Fire Alarm Incidenthttps://t.co/uWArgu6B1Q
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) October 26, 2023
According to court documents, Mr. Bowman knowingly pulled the fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building while the House was preparing to vote on stopgap government funding legislation. The result? A 30-minute evacuation of the building, leaving lawmakers scrambling and wasting precious time that could have been spent on other matters. Smooth move, Mr. Bowman.
But let’s not forget the context here. House Democrats were busy trying to delay a vote on a funding bill, and Mr. Bowman just happened to conveniently activate the alarm while rushing to cast his vote through an unexpectedly closed door. It’s amazing how these things work out, isn’t it?
In a stunning twist of fate, the false fire alarm charge against Mr. Bowman is expected to be dropped after he pays a mere $1,000 fine and serves three months of probation. What a slap on the wrist! I’m sure the next time he’s tempted to pull a fire alarm for fun or to delay a vote, he’ll think twice…or maybe not.
Republicans, unsurprisingly, were quick to criticize Mr. Bowman’s actions and his explanation. They called his story an “excuse” and pointed out that he conveniently neglected to inform the police officers he passed after activating the alarm. It seems like common sense would dictate that if it was an innocent mistake, you might want to let the authorities know, just to clear up any confusion, but I guess not everyone operates on the same level of logic.
Despite the backlash, Mr. Bowman remains determined to carry on with his work and has even struck a plea deal, which includes formally apologizing to Capitol police. How kind of him. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the apology after being inconvenienced by his little prank.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), not one to mince words, immediately called for Mr. Bowman’s expulsion from Congress, stating, “This is the United States Congress, not a New York City high school.” Ouch! I guess someone didn’t get the memo that pulling fire alarms for fun is generally frowned upon in professional settings.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) also chimed in, calling for an investigation into Mr. Bowman’s actions and asserting that they “should not go without punishment.” Let’s hope that punishment comes in the form of more than just a slap on the wrist.
As for Mr. Bowman, he’s already looking ahead to the future, confident that this little hiccup won’t hinder his work as a lawmaker. “There’s a deal in place,” he told reporters. “I’m looking forward to paying the fine and three months later being dismissed.” Ah, the optimism of a mischief-maker who managed to escape relatively unscathed. Good luck, Mr. Bowman, and may your fire alarm days be behind you.
