U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), a member of the far-left congressional group known as “the Squad,” attracted fierce backlash late last month after he activated a fire alarm in the House of Representatives just prior to a planned vote on a major spending bill.
At the time, many of his Republican colleagues called for him to face serious criminal charges. Earlier this week, reports indicate Bowman surrendered to authorities after reaching a plea agreement that will result in an arraignment while allowing for a count of “false fire alarm” to be dismissed.
BREAKING: The Superior Court of DC has issued a criminal summons to Jamaal Bowman on the charge of False Fire Alarm pic.twitter.com/8L2oLt2D9R
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 25, 2023
Bowman’s deal with prosecutors reportedly requires him to issue a public apology and a $1,000 fine. He released a statement on Thursday after turning himself in to police.
“I am responsible for activating a fire alarm,” he admitted. “I will be paying the fine issued, and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped.”
U.S. Capitol Police made it clear that the agency did not play a role in negotiating any deal with the lawmaker.
“Our General Counsel did not, nor did anyone in our Department, make that determination,” explained a statement from a spokesperson. “We sent the thoroughly investigated case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and prosecutors there did not pursue it.”
While his action was widely interpreted as an effort to delay a vote that ultimately allowed the federal government to avoid a shutdown, Bowman claimed at the time that the entire ordeal was the result of a mistake on his part.
“Congressman Bowman did not realize he would trigger a building alarm as he was rushing to make an urgent vote,” a spokesperson for the lawmaker said. “The congressman regrets any confusion.”
Video of the incident cast doubt on the explanation, however, as Bowman can clearly be seen pulling the lever to activate the alarm, which was on a wall away from the door he supposedly had been attempting to open.
“I thought the alarm would open the door,” Bowman later told reporters.
A number of prominent House Republicans publicly called for the New York Democrat to face harsh penalties on par with those prosecuted for their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, protest on Capitol Hill.
“Rep. Bowman obstructed an official proceeding by unlawfully pulling a fire alarm,” declared Rep. Beth van Duyne (R-TX) in a social media post. “Arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate that miserable insurrectionist.”
