House CENSURES Jamaal Bowman for pulling the fire alarm during crucial votes
The House voted to censure Representative Jamaal Bowman for pulling the fire alarm during a vote to prevent a government shutdown.
The vote was 214 to 191, with five members voting 'present'.
Four Democrats, all members of the Ethics Committee, voted “present” – as is customary in ethics-related matters. Three Democrats voted to censure Bowman: Reps. Jahana Hayes, Conn., Chris Pappas, N.H., and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Wash.
One Republican voted against: Representative Andy Harris of Maryland.
Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., forced a vote on the resolution this week by making it “privileged.”
Republicans have been pushing for Bowman's censure and perhaps even expulsion since the September 30 incident.
It came as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy abruptly dropped a stopgap bill in the House of Representatives hours before a deadline that would have led to a shutdown.
The House voted to censure Representative Jamaal Bowman for pulling the fire alarm during a vote to prevent a government shutdown
It came as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy abruptly dropped a stopgap bill on the floor of the House of Representatives hours before a deadline that would have led to a shutdown.
The continuing resolution, CR, kept government funding at 2023 levels without the cuts the Conservatives demanded. Ultimately, McCarthy was booted when Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., filed a motion to vacate.
Democrats demanded more time to read the bill, which is why Republicans claim Bowman sounded the alarm.
The congressman was charged with a crime in October and pleaded guilty a day later. Under an agreement with prosecutors, Bowman must write an apology to Capitol Police and pay a $1,000 fine.
Bowman has repeatedly said he accidentally pulled the alarm with the intention of opening a door.
“The most important thing I tried for 20 years as a high school principal and teacher was to teach my students that when they made a mistake, they had to be held accountable. They took responsibility and held themselves accountable. That's exactly what I did and yet here we are.”
The censure resolution sparked Democratic outrage.
“This censure is just the latest in this chamber's racist history of telling Black men they don't belong in Congress,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley. D-mass.
But McClain accused Democrats who rejected the effort of hypocrisy.
“The Republican majority has held our own former member accountable,” McClain said, referring to last week's vote to remove former Rep. George Santos from office. “It would be hypocritical if House Democrats did not join us in holding accountable one of their own members who has actually pleaded guilty to breaking the law.”