US House Censures Rep. Jamaal Bowman for False Fire Alarm

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Facts

  • On Thursday, the US House of Representatives voted to censure Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) for activating the fire alarm at the Cannon House Office Building during a chamber vote to fund the government in September.1
  • Three Democrats — Reps. Chris Pappas (NH), Jahana Hays (Ct.), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.) — voted with the Republicans to provide a final tally of 214-191, with four Democrats and one Republican voting present.2
  • In October, Bowman faced charges brought by Washington, DC, prosecutors in which he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor and was levied a $1K fine. While he was seen on camera pulling the fire alarm, he argued that it was by accident when trying to exit a door that was locked but is usually open during votes.3
  • Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI), who brought the motion to censure to the House floor, stated that 'Nobody is above the law, Congressmen included.'4
  • The vote to censure Rep. Bowman is just one of many recent votes to censure, impeach, or expel members of the US government. The House recently voted to expel former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) and censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) for alleged anti-Semitic comments.5

Sources: 1ABC News, 2NBC, 3BBC News, 4CNN and 5The Wall Street Journal.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by The Guardian. The extreme-right MAGA wing of the Republican party has been wheeling and dealing censures as though they were a weapon. If only they were willing to work this hard to meet the economic, healthcare, and safety needs of the American people. Everyone is at risk of a House Republican censure, which just renders the measure useless. Now that this charade is over, Bowman and his party can get back to work and focus on what really matters.
  • Republican narrative, as provided by The Federalist. Not only did Jamaal Bowman commit a crime by pulling the fire alarm, but he did so to help his party delay a House vote. The man who called Jan. 6 demonstrators terrorists and white supremacists single-handedly forced an entire legislative building to evacuate. So, while his political opponents rot in prison, Rep. Bowman gets treated with kids' gloves after endangering the same hallowed halls he claims to protect.

Predictions