A GOP Congresswoman put forth a motion to expel Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) after Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy called for Bowman to be punished for pulling a fire alarm in a House office building as Congress was preparing to vote on a continuing resolution to fund the government for forty-five days to avoid a shutdown at midnight.
A spokeswoman for Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) offered a (lame) excuse for him being caught on camera pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building Saturday as the House was preparing to vote on a continuing resolution to fund the government.
Fox News’ Chad Pergram reported Bowman spokeswoman Emma Simon sent out this statement to reporters, “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.”
Bowman spokeswoman: 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.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 30, 2023
Pergram later reported Bowman telling reporters, “I was just trying to get to my vote the door that’s usually open wasn’t open..I didn’t mean to cause confusion. I didn’t know it was going to trip the whole building. I thought it would help me open the door.”
Bowman: I was just trying to get to my vote the door that’s usually open wasn’t open..I didn’t mean to cause confusion. I didn’t know it was going to trip the whole building. I thought it would help me open the door.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 30, 2023
Bowman is a former school principal and surely knows what happens when a fire alarm is pulled. From Bowman’s House website (bold added): “In 2009, he went on to found Cornerstone Academy for Social Action (CASA), a Bronx middle school focused on unlocking the natural brilliance of all children through a holistic curriculum, where he served as principal for a decade.”
McCarthy spoke about Bowman while addressing reporters after the House passed the continuing resolution (NBC News excerpt):
“When you think about how other people were treated when they come in and wanted to change the course of what was happening in the building,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy went on to say that the Ethics Committee should take the pulled fire alarm “seriously.”
“This should not go without punishment,” McCarthy said. “I’m gonna have a discussion with the Democratic leader about it. But this should not go without punishment. This is an embarrassment.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) released a resolution to expel Bowman:
Source:
Text of the resolution
https://t.co/FlaARmjO7T pic.twitter.com/S8Nqfb7TDd
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) September 30, 2023
Malliotakis posted, “This is the United States Congress, not a New York City high school. This action warrants expulsion & I’m introducing a resolution to do just that.”
This is the United States Congress, not a New York City high school. This action warrants expulsion & I’m introducing a resolution to do just that. https://t.co/rfnLDzFHmK
— Office of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (@RepMalliotakis) September 30, 2023
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) is working on a censure resolution reported the Washington Examiner’s Reese Gorman, “News: @RepLisaMcClain has drafted a motion to censure Rep. Bowman for pulling the fire alarm and it has been sent to Leg Counsel. Collins, Franklin, Mace, Maliotakis, Carol Miller, and Bergman have joined as cosponsors, per McClain’s office.”
News: @RepLisaMcClain has drafted a motion to censure Rep. Bowman for pulling the fire alarm and it has been sent to Leg Counsel.
Collins, Franklin, Mace, Maliotakis, Carol Miller, and Bergman have joined as cosponsors, per McClain’s office
— Reese Gorman (@reesejgorman) September 30, 2023
McClain also posted, “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
Other Republicans supporting Bowman’s expulsion:
Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA):
Rep. Austin Scott on Bowman’s fire alarm incident: “We need to move to expel him from Congress.”
Other House Rs repeating this
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) September 30, 2023
Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), “Today, we would’ve been working from our office in Cannon, helping constituents before a potential government shuts down, BUT Congressman Jamal Bowman pulled the fire alarm to delay the CR. EXPEL THE CONGRESSMAN!”
Today, we would’ve been working from our office in Cannon, helping constituents before a potential government shuts down, BUT Congressman Jamal Bowman pulled the fire alarm to delay the CR.
EXPEL THE CONGRESSMAN! pic.twitter.com/caji20KknV
— Rep. Diana Harshbarger (@RepHarshbarger) September 30, 2023
Committee on House Administration Chairman Brian Steil (R-WI) posted a statement that the incident was under investigation, “Rep Jamaal Bowman pulled a fire alarm in Cannon this morning. An investigation into why it was pulled is underway. – Chairman Bryan Steil”
Rep Jamaal Bowman pulled a fire alarm in Cannon this morning. An investigation into why it was pulled is underway. – Chairman Bryan Steil
— House Admin. Committee GOP (@HouseAdmin) September 30, 2023
UPDATE: Bowman’s school that he founded and serves as principal for a decade mandates suspension or expulsion for pulling a fire alarm without good cause (Found by Town Hall’s John Hasson):
Per the Cornerstone Code of Conduct: https://t.co/jRr9ti4ju1
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) September 30, 2023
The post GOP Rep Moves to Expel Jamaal Bowman After Speaker McCarthy Calls for Punishment Over Pulling Fire Alarm appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
