(CBrief) – Far-left Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) has turned himself into police after the district attorney’s office in Washington, D.C., charged him with making a false fire alarm.
District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb charged Bowman with a misdemeanor “after he pulled the fire alarm in a House office building before a vote in late September on a temporary funding package to prevent a government shutdown,” the Daily Caller reported.
Bowman was charged with a violation of D.C. codes. There is “probable cause to believe that the defendant willfully or knowingly gave a false fire alarm within the District of Columbia,” Bowman’s arrest report said, according to the outlet.
At the time, Bowman claimed that he thought that by pulling the alarm, a door would open.
“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 following the incident, which was captured on video and immediately seized upon by Republicans. “I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused.”
He turned himself in before his arraignment on Thursday (see video below).
Meanwhile, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) introduced a resolution on Wednesday to censure Bowman following his indictment. The censure measure also calls for stripping Bowman of his committee assignments.
“The House of Representatives censures Jamaal Bowman, Representative of the 16th Congressional District of New York, for violating District of Columbia Criminal Code Section 22-1319 by knowingly causing a false alarm of fire in an attempt to obstruct official proceedings of the House,” the resolution says.
“Bowman will forthwith present himself in the well of the House of Representatives for the pronouncement of censure,” it also reads, with the pronouncement to be done by newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Bowman has been criticized by Democrats and Republicans. And his stunt led to a closed-door meeting with his party’s leader, Hakeem Jeffries, a fellow New York Democrat, following a complaint filed with the House Ethics Committee.
Fox News reported Thursday:
Bowman, 47, turned himself in on Thursday morning ahead of his arraignment, wearing a navy suit, striped shirt, a blue tie, and carrying a gray backpack. He pleaded guilty to causing the false alarm.
The New York Democrat told reporters ahead of the arraignment that he is “taking responsibility” for causing the false alarm and that “Hell no” he didn’t mean to pull the alarm.
“What I did was against D.C. law,” Bowman said. “As I said from the very beginning, I was not trying to disrupt any congressional proceedings, I’m glad the investigation yielded that.”
Fox reported that Bowman copped a plea with the DA’s office: He will pay a $1000 fine and write a letter of apology — or someone on his staff will — to the U.S. Capitol Police Dept.
DC Superior Court Judge Dorsey Jones told the far-left lawmaker he faces six months in jail if he does not pay the fine or write the letter. Bowman’s office told Fox News that if he pays his fine and writes the letter, the charges will be withdrawn.
“I’m thankful for the quick resolution from the District of Columbia Attorney General’s office on this issue and grateful that the United States Capitol Police General Counsel’s office agreed I did not obstruct nor intend to obstruct any House vote or proceedings,” Bowman told Fox News Digital. “I am responsible for activating a fire alarm, I will be paying the fine issued, and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped.”
He then tried to shift focus to the GOP majority in the House.
“I think we all know that Republicans will attempt to use this to distract everyone from their mess, but I look forward to putting this behind me and to continue working hard to deliver for New Yorkers,” he said.
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