House GOP leader circulates resolution to censure Bowman for ‘theatrical attempt to cause panic’
October 03, 2023 12:36 AM
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI), secretary of the House Republican Conference, has circulated a resolution to censure Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) after the New York Democrat pulled a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building in what many believe was an effort to delay a vote on the continuing resolution put forward by Republicans to keep the government funded.
The censure would remove Bowman from all of his committee assignments, which include the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, as well as precipitate an Ethics Committee investigation into his actions, according to the text obtained by the Washington Examiner’s Reese Gorman.
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“…the actions of Representative Bowman forced the evacuation of the Cannon House Office Building and disrupted the work of the Congress as a vote was underway on the floor of the House…” McClain’s resolution reads. “…the interruption of official proceedings of Congress by pulling a fire alarm was a theatrical attempt to cause panic, therefore endangering the safety and well-being of Members of the House, of staff, and members of the public on the Capitol grounds.”
Gorman reported on Saturday that McClain had drafted a motion to censure Bowman with Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) and Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) serving as co-sponsors.
The House Republican Conference secretary also made her opinion on Bowman’s action clear the same day, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “This is a felony, plain and simple. USCP had to waste resources investigating rather than actually keeping the Capitol safe. The House must hold Rep. Bowman accountable. Now.”
This is a felony, plain and simple. USCP had to waste resources investigating rather than actually keeping the Capitol safe.
The House must hold Rep. Bowman accountable. Now. https://t.co/ceD5sbfy14
— Representative Lisa McClain (@RepLisaMcClain) September 30, 2023
Bowman has denied that his pulling of the fire alarm was intentional, stating that he was rushing to make a vote and thought the “alarm would open a door.” The United States Capitol Police is investigating the situation.
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It is possible that the New York Democrat could be charged with three crimes and receive a maximum sentence of nearly 36 years, according to D.C. and federal laws.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said Monday he planned to “have a discussion with the Democratic Leader” about the incident, saying that it “should not go without punishment.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) reportedly spoke with Bowman on Saturday, with the latter saying the minority leader was “supportive and understood it was a mistake.”