Bowman Remains Defiant After Vote to Censure Him
House vote follows lawmaker already having been punished for fire alarm pull
Rep Jamaal Bowman remains unbowed after the House narrowly votes to censure the New York Democrat for pulling a fire alarm on Capitol Hill in September.
Bowman admitted to pulling the alarm Saturday as he was making his way through the Capitol to vote on the last-minute spending bill which averted a federal government shutdown.
The second-term lawmaker also agreed to pay the maximum fine of $1,000, write a letter of apology to Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger and serve three months' probation.
That was not enough for House Republicans, some of whom compared Bowman's actions to that of the violent supporters of Donald Trump's who rioted at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The House censured Bowman Thursday by a vote of 214-191. Three Democrats joined Republicans to censure, but a number of lawmakers of both parties either voted “present,” or did not vote.
Bowman thanked fellow Democrats who supported him.
“I want to thank Democratic leadership and my countless other colleagues for standing up for me last night during the debate,” said Congressman Bowman. “Your words were so kind and I am always grateful to have you all by my side.
“I have expressed deep regret, apologized for my mistake, and taken accountability for my actions. I also went through the proper investigative processes with the Republican controlled House Committee on Ethics, which decided not to open a formal investigation,” he added in a statement. “I had hoped that we could devote our time and resources to doing our jobs and addressing the issues Americans care about.
“Americans desperately need us to act with urgency to address the high costs of healthcare, prevent gun violence, invest in education, and so much more, but my colleagues have made it explicitly clear that they would rather re-litigate already settled matters than do what we were sent here to do and legislate,” Bowman said. “This Republican House is unserious and unproductive, and I know that their efforts to target me are a testament to the importance of my voice in pushing back against their disingenuous rhetoric and harmful policies. I look forward to continuing to serve the people of New York’s 16th district and the country.”
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