Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) was reportedly “caught on camera” pulling the Cannon House Office fire alarm to delay the vote on the House continuing resolution that would avoid the government shutdown, according to a report by Poltico’s Olivia Beavers.
The Democratic lawmaker reportedly pulled the alarm in the House office as his party attempted to a delay a vote on Speaker Kevin McCarthy‘s 45-day stopgap spending bill that would avoid a shutdown at midnight.
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The official footage of Bowman pulling the alarm has not been released at this time.
NEWS: Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) was caught on camera pulling the Cannon fire alarm ahead of this motion to adjourn vote as Dems tried to delay the CR vote, multiple sources tell me.
We have reached out to him for comment – we haven’t viewed footage ourselves.
Beavers added that an “alert” had been sent out to Capitol Police officers to locate Bowman.
The attempt to delay was not successful; the House began voting on the CR not long after Beavers’ tweets were posted.
The the House scrambles to keep the government from shutting down at midnight, one of the House offices is being evacuated due to a fire alarm: pic.twitter.com/OarWyJjuVD
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) September 30, 2023
Capitol Police released a photo of the alleged suspect believed to have pulled the Cannon fire alarm.
🚨🚨NEW — Capitol Police are circulating this photo of a man pulling the fire alarm in Cannon. Looks a lot like Jamaal Bowman pic.twitter.com/khzpigSvWI
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) September 30, 2023
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Rep. Joe Morelle, top Dem on House Admin, says allegations that Rep. Bowman pulled the fire alarm are a “serious matter.”
“It appears from the footage to be him, but I haven’t talked to him.”
Says he wants to hear Bowman’s explanation.
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) September 30, 2023
Following reports of Bowman pulling the fire alarm, his spokesperson released a statement claiming he “did not realize he would trigger a building alarm as he was rushing to make an urgent vote. The Congressman regrets any confusion.”
NEW: Bowman spox Emma Simon on him pulling the fire alarm.
“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.”
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) September 30, 2023
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