On Thursday, Democrat Squad member Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) was officially censured by the House of Representatives after he pulled a fire alarm during a critical vote to keep the government open to delay the proceeding. Bowman was previously charged by the D.C. attorney general in October, which led to him pleading guilty to a misdemeanor.
Bowman’s censure vote passed along party lines with a vote of 214 to 191. While censuring does not carry any direct penalties for the Democrat, it does show that his colleagues officially condemned his actions. As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, Bowman was caught on camera by Capitol Police pulling the alarm near an entrance, thus forcing all staff, lawmakers, and other persons inside the Cannon House Office Building to evacuate. His efforts, however, seemingly were without consequence given that the House passed the 45-day spending measure on a vote of 335 to 91 earlier this year to keep the government open.
Footage of the incident shows Bowman pulling a fire alarm near one of the office building’s exits. The Democrat later justified his actions by claiming that he was attempting to get out of the building to go vote. “I was trying to get to a door. I thought the alarm would open the door, and I pulled the fire alarm to open the door by accident,” Bowman said at the time. “I was just trying to get to my vote, and the door that’s usually open wasn’t open, it was closed.” Bowman can be seen taking down the signs that are meant to warn members and staff that an alarm will go off if the exit is opened. However, he ignored those warnings.
In response, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) put forward the resolution to censure Bowman and denounce his effort to delay the critical vote. The New York progressive, however, stood defiant despite the obvious evidence showing his wrongdoing. “It’s painfully obvious to myself, my colleagues, and the American people that the Republican Party is deeply unserious and unable to legislate. Their censure resolution against me today continues to demonstrate their inability to govern and serve the American people,” Bowman said on the House floor prior to the vote, per CNN. “The legal process on this matter has played out. In no way did I obstruct official proceedings… Unfortunately, Republicans are here trying to rehash an already litigated matter.”
See the evidence of Bowman’s wrongdoing yourself below:
🚨 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
