Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) pulled the fire alarm in a House office building as his party tried to delay a vote on a hurried House GOP stopgap spending bill, according to the Republican-controlled Administration Committee.
Bowman "pulled a fire alarm in Cannon this morning," a spokesperson for the panel said. "An investigation into why it was pulled is underway.”
Multiple people familiar with the situation said was caught on camera as the House descended into fresh chaos on Saturday. A Bowman spokesperson described the incident as inadvertent.
“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,” Emma Simon, Bowman’s digital director, said in a statement.
Republicans are incensed about the incident. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) is drafting a resolution that,would expel Bowman from the House in response, her spokesperson confirmed.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters Saturday that he would discuss the matter with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) but added that “this should not go without punishment," suggesting that Bowman could face further action from the GOP side.
A Capitol Police spokesperson said: "The building was evacuated while USCP officers checked the building. The building was reopened after it was determined that there was not a threat. An investigation into what happened and why continues."
Anthony Adragna contributed.
