“Jamaal Bowman is a former middle school principal. He knows that a fire alarm is.”
Members of the GOP unloaded on Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) for pulling the fire alarm to delay a key vote to fund the government over the weekend; Bowman claims it was an honest mistake.
“Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today would not open,” Bowman said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sure.
From The New York Post:
The bright red alarm is clearly marked with the word “FIRE” — and is right next to two signs that provide explicit details on how to open the emergency door at the Cannon House Office Building, photos show.
“Emergency Exit Only!” the signs read. “Push until alarm sounds (3 seconds). Door will unlock in 30 seconds.”
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy stopped by Fox & Friends Monday morning to remind Americans that Bowman is a former school principal —surely he knows what a fire alarm looks like.
Watch the clip below:
Jamaal Bowman is a former middle school principal. He knows what a fire alarm is. pic.twitter.com/1VSdEbHWgz
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) October 2, 2023
Peach State Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also shared her skepticism, saying Bowman “must be treated exactly the same as Jan 6 defendants.”
“He knows exactly what pulling a fire alarm means. He did it while the Dems were trying to stall for time for the Senate and the Dem whip had just called for a motion to adjourn,” MTG added.
Former President and 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump called for Bowman to be imprisoned on TRUTH Social, saying “it was very dangerous.”
“Will Congressman [Jamaal] Bowman be prosecuted and imprisoned for very dangerously pulling and setting off the main fire alarm system in order to stop a Congressional vote that was going on in D.C.,” Trump wrote on TRUTH Social.
“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, referencing Jan. 6.
Donald Trump on Jamaal Bowman pulling the fire alarm: pic.twitter.com/4YLZABST1U
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 1, 2023
“This is not confusing at all,” former Congressman Justin Amash (R-Mich.) wrote on X. “There’s a push bar on the door below the sign. Members of Congress see these signs all the time and know exactly what they mean.
“I can’t even imagine thinking it has something to do with a fire alarm pull on the wall,” Amash added. “Stop excusing his recklessness.”
Founder of Punchbowl News Jake Sherman took to X to make it very clear that Bowman’s story makes no sense.
For those who work on Capitol Hill — or even those who don’t — this makes no sense.
1) have you in your life ever activated a fire alarm in a large public building to open a door?
2) there are tunnels that take you from this building straight to the Capitol. It’s very easy. I do… https://t.co/FArSEHn7wz— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 1, 2023