Rep. Bowman of New York faces misdemeanor charge in fire alarm pulled in House office building
By The Associated Press on October 25, 2023.
Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman was charged Wednesday with a misdemeanor for triggering a fire alarm as lawmakers scrambled to pass a funding bill before a government shutdown deadline in September. The alarm prompted an evacuation of a House office building. It reopened an hour later after Capitol Police determined it was not a threat. The New York lawmaker acknowledged pulling the alarm, telling reporters hours later that it was a mistake. He said he was rushing to get to votes and trying to get through a door that is usually open. At the time of the evacuation House Democrats were working to delay a vote on a funding bill to keep federal agencies open. They had said they needed time to review a bill that Republicans abruptly released to avoid a shutdown. 5-4
