Washington, D.C. Attorney General has charged New York Representative Jamaal Bowman for triggering a fire alarm in a House office building when there was no emergency.
This incident occurred last month when security footage showed the 47-year-old lawmaker pulling a fire alarm in the House building while lawmakers were voting on a government funding bill.
Representative Bowman, a Democrat, pleaded guilty on Thursday in Washington, D.C. Superior Court and was booked, fingerprinted, and processed on a misdemeanor charge.
In a statement issued on the day of the incident, Bowman explained that he had mistakenly pulled the fire alarm, thinking it was the door handle. He emphasized that it was not an intentional attempt to delay the vote but rather a result of confusion.
Bowman has agreed to conditions set by the DC attorney general’s office, which include three months of probation, a formal apology to U.S. Capitol Police, and a $1,000 fine, in order for the misdemeanor charge to be dropped.
In response to the resolution, Bowman expressed gratitude for the quick resolution and confirmed his responsibility for activating the fire alarm. He also stated his commitment to paying the fine and looked forward to having the charges ultimately dropped.
