Democratic U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman of New York pulled a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill, prompting an evacuation of the building and interrupting a House vote on a stopgap spending measure to avoid a government shutdown
Bowman’s office said that the fire alarm was pulled unintentionally, as Bowman was rushing to make the vote and came to a door that was usually open for votes but was closed on that day.
Bowman said that he mistakenly thought that pulling the fire alarm would open the door.
However, some Republicans accused Bowman of intentionally pulling the fire alarm in order to delay the vote.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy compared Bowman’s actions to those of the January 6 rioters.
The U.S. Capitol Police and the House Administration Committee are investigating the incident.
Bowman’s actions have been met with mixed reactions.
Some people have defended him, saying that the fire alarm was pulled unintentionally and that he should not be punished for it.
Others have criticized him, saying that his actions were irresponsible and that he should be held accountable.
It is important to note that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing, and it is not yet clear whether Bowman will face any disciplinary action.