U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) said on Wednesday that U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) “should be expelled” from Congress after he was charged with pulling a fire alarm in the Capitol building last month as Republicans deliberated on a spending measure to keep the government open.
Bowman received a misdemeanor charge on Wednesday in connection with the incident. The charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail. He will be arraigned on Thursday morning.
According to Axios congressional reporter Andrew Solender, Capitol Police concluded their investigation and sent evidence to prosecutors.
New: Bowman charged with one count of false fire alarm in violation of D.C. criminal code, per court documents: pic.twitter.com/hCDZvOdior
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) October 25, 2023
A spokesperson for Bowman told Solender that the attorney general agreed to withdraw his charges in three months in exchange for a public apology and a $1,000 fine.
Bowman spox says the AG agreed to withdraw the charge in three months if he formally apologizes and pays a $1,000 fine.
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) October 25, 2023
"I am responsible for activating a fire alarm, I will be paying the fine issued, and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped." https://t.co/oftSAWp38b
After Bowden pulled the fire alarm in September, former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called the incident “an embarrassment” and suggested the congressman should be punished.
Palmer quoted Solender’s tweet of Bowman’s confession on Wednesday afternoon, stating, “He should be expelled.”
He should be expelled. https://t.co/Sd1hyXwBsJ
— Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) October 25, 2023
According to reports, Bowman claimed he pulled the fire alarm accidentally while in a rush and trying to exit through two doors on Capitol Hill.
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