Rep. Jamaal Bowman triggers fire alarm during House office building vote on funding bill

Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman triggered a fire alarm in a Capitol office building while lawmakers were scrambling to pass a bill to fund the government.

In a surprising turn of events, Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman found himself at the center of controversy on Saturday when he inadvertently triggered a fire alarm in one of the U.S. Capitol office buildings. The incident occurred as lawmakers were frantically working to pass a bill to fund the government before the midnight shutdown deadline.

The fire alarm blared out at noon in the Cannon House Office Building, causing a building-wide evacuation. This happened while the House was in session and staffers were diligently carrying out their duties. The House Administration Committee, controlled by the GOP, swiftly shared a picture on X (formerly known as Twitter), suggesting that Bowman was the one responsible for pulling the fire alarm. They also stated that an investigation into the incident was underway.

Bowman's spokesperson, in a statement to The Associated Press, clarified that the congressman had no intention of triggering a building-wide alarm. Rather, he was merely rushing to make it to the House floor. The statement expressed regret for any confusion caused but did not offer any further details.

Interestingly, the evacuation took place at a crucial moment when House Democrats were seeking to delay a vote on a 45-day funding bill. Their aim was to have more time to thoroughly review the 71-page bill that had been unexpectedly released by Republicans to prevent a government shutdown.

Despite the chaos caused by the fire alarm, the funding package was eventually approved with a significant majority of 335-91 on Saturday afternoon. Most Republicans, along with almost all Democrats, including Bowman, lent their support to the bill.

However, the aftermath of the incident saw Republicans, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, strongly criticizing Bowman for his role in triggering the fire alarm. Some even went so far as to propose drafting a motion to expel him from the House, deeming his actions embarrassing and deserving of punishment.

McCarthy intends to hold discussions with Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York to determine an appropriate response to the situation. The incident has certainly left a mark on the Capitol and has sparked significant debate and concern among lawmakers.

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