The U.S. House of Representatives has censured Representative Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat from New York, for triggering a fire alarm in a House office building. The resolution to censure Bowman was introduced by Lisa McClain, a Republican from Michigan, and passed with a vote of 214-191, largely along party lines. Five members voted 'present.'
This incident marks the third time this year that a Democrat has been censured by the GOP-led chamber. Critics, primarily Republicans, accused Bowman of intentionally pulling the alarm to delay a critical vote and give Democrats more time to read a lengthy legislative proposal. However, Bowman, a former middle school principal, has repeatedly stated that he pulled the fire alarm by mistake while rushing to the Capitol to vote.
Despite Bowman's claims, video footage released showed him intentionally pulling the alarm. Following the incident, Bowman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and agreed to pay the maximum fine of $1,000. The censure resolution's passage indicates an increasing use of such proposals in the House as a tool for partisan criticism.
Bowman, a prominent progressive in Congress, has been a target of right-wing anger. His censure comes ahead of a high-stakes floor vote to stave off a government shutdown. Despite the controversy surrounding the fire alarm incident, the stopgap funding bill ended up passing with bipartisan support.
