Rep. Jamaal Bowman triggered a fire alarm in a House office building amid voting on a funding bill

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Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman acknowledged that he inadvertently triggered a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building on Saturday. This incident occurred during a critical moment when lawmakers were working diligently to pass a government funding bill before the impending midnight shutdown deadline.

The fire alarm disrupted the proceedings, prompting a building-wide evacuation while the House was in session, and staff members were actively engaged in their duties. Fortunately, Capitol Police quickly determined that there was no actual threat, and the building was reopened after an hour.

The House Administration Committee, controlled by the GOP, posted a photo suggesting that it was Bowman who pulled the fire alarm. However, the New York legislator later explained to reporters that it was an unintended mistake. He clarified that he was rushing to participate in votes and attempted to access a typically open door, which, to his surprise, was closed due to it being a weekend.

Bowman emphasized that his actions were not an attempt to obstruct any proceedings but rather a misguided effort to expedite his entry. During the evacuation, House Democrats were working to postpone a vote on a 71-page funding bill aimed at keeping federal agencies operational for 45 days. They argued that they needed more time to review the bill, which had been abruptly released by Republicans to avert a government shutdown.

Ultimately, the funding package received approval with a vote of 335-91, garnering support from most Republicans and nearly all Democrats, including Bowman. In a subsequent statement, Bowman clarified that his intention was never to delay any vote; quite the contrary, he was eager to participate in the vote and contribute to a bipartisan effort to maintain government operations.

Bowman also met with the House Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police at their request to provide an explanation for the incident. He expressed his hope that the situation would not be blown out of proportion.

Capitol Police confirmed that an investigation into the incident is ongoing. After the vote, some Republicans, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, criticized Bowman’s actions and suggested potential consequences such as expulsion or censure. However, Bowman’s fellow New York colleague, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, expressed support and understanding, characterizing the incident as a simple mistake. Bowman criticized the reaction from McCarthy and other Republicans, alleging an attempt to exploit a minor error for political purposes.

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More about fire alarm incident

• Rep. Jamaal Bowman acknowledges triggering fire alarm in House office building
• Government shutdown averted with little time to spare
• Capitol Police investigate fire alarm incident
• Reaction from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and fellow lawmakers