Bowman slammed by watchdog saying fire alarm video proves he committed ethics violation

The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust claims that Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) should face punishment from the House Ethics Committee after a recently released video showed the congressman pulling a fire alarm.

In security camera footage released on Thursday, Bowman can be seen removing warning signs from an emergency exit before pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building last month. The watchdog said in a lengthy statement that the video shows “Bowman’s actions were completely inconsistent with his prior statement” and that he had attempted to “cover up his actions.”

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“The facts are now clear. Along with his guilty plea, the video released today clearly shows Bowman’s actions were completely inconsistent with his prior statement that he ‘activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door,’” Kendra Arnold, FACT’s executive director, said in a statement. “The video shows Bowman removing the signs from the door and then pulling the fire alarm as he was walking away from the door — he did NOT attempt to exit the building after pulling the alarm. The video and his guilty plea clearly demonstrate the story he told was an attempt to cover up his actions.”

The group filed an ethics complaint earlier this month requesting the House Ethics Committee open an investigation into Bowman over his actions in pulling the fire alarm. Arnold now claims that the video proves Bowman violated the House ethics code for having conduct that does not reflect “credibility on the House.”

“Clearly when a criminal offense is committed and brazen dishonesty is displayed, a Member’s conduct does not satisfy this ethics rule. In fact, a House resolution requires action by the House Ethics Committee whenever a Member is charged with felony or misdemeanor criminal conduct,” Arnold said. “In this case, the criminal conduct has not just been charged but guilt has been established in court proceedings. Not only must the Office of Congressional Ethics and House Ethics Committee act and enforce the ethics rules, but they must also impose a serious punishment to deter this type of behavior in the future.”

The footage of the incident from Sept. 30 shows Bowman pulling the signs off the door, pulling the fire alarm, and walking away.

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The New York Democrat was charged with a misdemeanor for the incident that prompted an evacuation of the building ahead of a pivotal vote on a stopgap measure to avert a government shutdown. He pleaded guilty to the charge on Thursday, and he was fined $1,000 for the misdemeanor.

“Listen, you know, I pulled the fire alarm, and I did not do it to disrupt a court proceeding, like I said. I was trying to get out the door. I was rushing to a vote,” Bowman told reporters outside the courthouse on Thursday. “I’m thankful that we have an agreement in place. I’m thankful in three months it’s going to be dismissed, and now, let’s move on.”