Jamaal Bowman could face more than 30 years behind bars for fire alarm pull

Rep. Jamaal Bowman‘s (D-NY) act of pulling the fire alarm during House proceedings could lead to significant jail time if charges are pressed.

Bowman was seen on security footage pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building as Democrats looked to stall a vote on the clean continuing resolution put on the floor by Republicans.

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The New York representative has denied that it 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.

It is possible that Bowman could be charged with three crimes and receive a maximum sentence of nearly 36 years, according to D.C. and federal laws.

The lesser of the three offenses is a false emergency report. Under D.C. law, it is a misdemeanor and punishable by up to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Falsely pulling a fire alarm could also constitute illegal obstruction of congressional proceedings, a felony under federal law 18 U.S.C. § 1505. The felony is punishable by no more than five years. The law calls for eight years if the offense involves domestic or international terrorism, which could not apply in Bowman’s case.

Bowman’s act could also conceivably be tried as an obstruction of justice charge under D.C. law, which includes “corruptly, or by threats of force, any way obstructs or impedes or endeavors to obstruct or impede the due administration of justice in any official proceeding.” This Class A felony would carry a punishment of at least three years and no more than 30 years and a fine as low as $12,500.

If he received the highest sentence, Bowman could spend 35 years and 6 months in jail if the sentence is given consecutively. However, sentences of this nature are likely to be given concurrently, lowering the number of years spent in jail.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said he planned to “have a discussion with the Democratic Leader” about the incident, saying that it “should not go without punishment.”

Several Republicans have equated the incident to the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and others have called for Bowman to be charged with a felony under federal law.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) called Bowman an “insurrectionist,” which is what the Jan. 6 protesters have been referred to as. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said Bowman should be prosecuted by the Justice Department using the same law to prosecute “J6 defendants.”

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Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter on Sunday, asking when Bowman’s trial would begin and saying he should “suffer their same fate,” referring to the many trials of Jan. 6 protesters.

“It was a very dangerous ‘Obstruction of an Official Proceeding,’ the same as used against our J-6 prisoners. Actually, his act may have been worse,” Trump said.