A recent video posted on social media casts doubt on Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s explanation for why he pulled the fire alarm in the Cannon Building just before a pivotal vote to prevent a governmental shutdown was to take place.
Bowman pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor related to the fire alarm incident this Thursday as part of an agreement with the Washington, DC, attorney general’s office.
The representative admitted that he raised a false fire alarm and would pay a fine of $1,000 to avoid jail. But Bowman continues to insist that the incident was a mistake and that he had no intention of obstructing the vote on the GOP stopgap spending bill.
Statement from Congressman Jamaal Bowman pic.twitter.com/n4NT5k0vjt
— Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) October 25, 2023
According to the explanation that the Democrat gave shortly after the incident, it was all a “confusion.” “I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today would not open (...) I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door,” he said.
However, a video posted on Twitter by Spectrum News NY1 Washington correspondent Kevin Frey contradicts Bowman’s account.
Obtained by @NY1: Footage of Rep. Bowman pulling the fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Bldg on Sept. 30.
Bowman pleaded guilty this morning in court to "willfully or knowingly giving false fire alarm" in DC. pic.twitter.com/HaBBAaLQqI
— Kevin Frey (@KevinFreyTV) October 26, 2023
In the 30-second video, the congressman can be seen removing what appear to be the emergency exit signs, activating the fire alarm and leaving with the signs in his hand, without making any further effort to open the doors.
“Bold-faced liar. This is not a brain freeze. Not an accident. He didn’t even go out the doors. This was a premeditated attempt to stop other Members of Congress from voting. This is a federal crime and there must be consequences for his actions. The tapes reveal the truth. Time for him to go to jail,” said former Republican governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, after watching the footage.
BOLD-FACED LIAR.
This is not a brain freeze. Not an accident. He didn’t even go out the doors. This was a premeditated attempt to stop other Members of Congress from voting. This is a federal crime and there must be consequences for his actions.
The tapes reveal the truth.… https://t.co/6A7t4gBoaV
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) October 26, 2023
Republican Representative Nicole Malliotakis had already denounced that the activation of the fire alarm was a deliberate attempt by Bowman to disrupt the proceedings of the House of Representatives and stressed that this was not the only effort by Democrats to prevent the vote.
“First, they tried to do a motion to adjourn. Then they tried to speak on the floor. Hakeem Jeffries gave a very long speech to try to further delay the vote, and then you saw the fire alarm pulled,” Malliotakis said.
