Jamaal Bowman Pulled Fire Alarm Before Key House Vote

Saturday was a tense day at the Capitol. It was the last day that Congress had to avoid a government shutdown – the 15th time this would have happened in the last 40 years. Spoiler: The House passed a bipartisan bill at the eleventh hour, which was then expected to head to the Senate. It was a crazy day, made even crazier by the fact that a Democrat pulled a fire alarm on a key vote for some reason.

By CBS News, Jamaal Bowman, a progressive member of the House Democrats, admitted to sounding the alarm, as the chamber voted on a stopgap spending bill that would delay a possible shutdown for another 45 days. House members were quick to sow discord over the issue, saying it was an intentional — and illegal — attempt to delay the vote.

Among them was Marjorie Taylor Greene, who said Bowman should be treated like the January 6 protesters (whose actions she defended).

Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis has pledged to draft a resolution to expel Bowman.

Some simply called for his resignation

As for Bowman, Emma Simon, his spokesperson, said it was an accident. “Congressman Bowman did not realize he would set off an alarm in the building as he rushed to take an urgent vote,” Simon said. “The Congressman regrets any confusion.”

Bowman himself told reporters that he “thought the alarm would open the door.”

Bowman criticized some of the Republican House’s most questionable members, like George Santos. Santos was one of the Republicans who dragged him over the incident.

An investigation is underway, which should be fun. In the meantime, it now seems unlikely that MAGA supporters will succeed in bringing down the government.

(Via CBS News)