Rep. Bowman (D-NY) Facing Criminal Charges for Fire Alarm Stunt

num_skyman / shutterstock.com
num_skyman / shutterstock.com

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) is now facing criminal charges for pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building on September 30th. Charged with one misdemeanor count of falsely pulling a fire alarm, he could face up to six months in jail. Done as a last-ditch effort to prevent a vote on the floor of the House, his team tried denying the allegations that it was intentional.

“Congressman Bowman did not realize he would trigger a building alarm as he was rushing to make an urgent vote. The Congressman regrets any confusion,” said his spokeswoman in a prepared statement. Never mind the fact that the man spent 10 years as a school principal, and in that state, they require 12 fire drills per school year. Even more telling, the video clip from him pulling the alarm showed him doing it very decisively and with no confusion.

On October 25th, he reached a late deal with the Attorney General where he could pay a $1,000 fine, and issue a formal apology for his actions, stay out of trouble, and in three months, the charges would be dropped. In a statement, Rep. Bowman said, “I am responsible for activating a fire alarm, I will be paying the fine issued, and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped.”

While this potentially satisfied the criminal charges, Congress can still censure or expel the Representative from his Congressional appointment. Given the lack of real punishment from the AG, it would be smart for Congress to send him and the rest of the left a message. Given his history as an educator, if they opt to let the AG’s punishment be the only repercussion he faces, they are sending school children a horrific message.