New York Democrat Jamaal Bowman Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor Charge

Bowman Faces Expulsion from Congress for Falsely Pulling Fire Alarm

Charges Stem from Incident in House Office Building

Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) pleaded guilty on Thursday to a misdemeanor charge for falsely pulling a fire alarm in the House Cannon Office Building. The incident, which occurred on June 22, 2023, was caught on security footage and led to an investigation by the Capitol Police.

According to court documents, Bowman admitted to pulling the alarm after becoming frustrated with the slow pace of a vote on a bill he supported. He has agreed to pay the maximum fine of $1,000 for the offense.

Bowman's guilty plea comes amid calls from Republicans to expel him from Congress. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has accused Bowman of "abusing his position" and "undermining the integrity of the House." A vote on Bowman's expulsion is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

If expelled, Bowman would be the first member of Congress to be removed from office since 2010. His expulsion would also be a significant victory for Republicans, who have been critical of Bowman's progressive views and support for President Biden.