NY Republican introduces resolution to expel Bowman for pulling fire alarm

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) introduced a resolution Monday to expel Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) for pulling a fire alarm before Saturday’s House vote on a measure to fund the government.

“We’ve dropped the resolution with twelve cosponsors, and we will continue to add more throughout the day. Mr. Bowman’s juvenile actions violated both federal and local law and he must be held accountable,” Malliotakis said in a statement shared with The Hill.

Bowman pulled a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building ahead of the midnight deadline to pass a measure to fund the government. The fire alarm forced a temporary evacuation of the building, though House members eventually returned and voted on the bill. 

The resolution comes amid a push from some GOP lawmakers who have accused Bowman of intentionally trying to stop the high-stakes vote.

Bowman has maintained his pulling of the fire alarm was an accident as he rushed to vote on the last-minute stopgap measure rolled out by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier in the day. 

Speaking with reporters Monday, Bowman reiterated he was in a rush to get to the vote, and pulled the alarm, thinking it would open the door.

“There was a dumb choice but, you know, it is what it is,” Bowman said Monday. “I take full responsibility for it, now trying to move on, just do my job.”

When pressed over why he thought a fire alarm would get him out of the door, Bowman said he has done that in other places and it worked.

“At the end of the day, I wasn’t trying to prevent a vote or shut down the government or do anything,” Bowman said. “It was a bad decision; it was a mistake.”

When asked over a Republican motion to oust him for the House, Bowman said, “I mean, for doing that, OK, I mean, whatever if that’s what they want to do. … But no one was trying to stop a vote. That’s for sure.”

U.S. Capitol Police said Monday it continues to investigate the incident, which it said took place at about 12:05 p.m. Saturday. 

Police did not identify Bowman in its update Monday but said “a man was seen trying to exit the door in the Cannon Building and then pulling the fire alarm that prompted the evacuation.” 

The police also noted officers “had previously placed signs with clear language that explained the door was secured and marked as an emergency exit only.”

Emily Brooks contributed.