Government watchdog smacks U.S. Congressman with shocking allegations
The Swamp is alive and well in Washington. But one man can’t escape his crimes.
And a government watchdog smacked a U.S. Congressman with shocking allegations.
According to a conservative group, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) violated House ethics rules last month when he pulled a fire alarm while the lower house was rushing a vote to avoid a partial government shutdown.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics on Thursday, alleging that the far-Left Bronx and Westchester Congressman failed to conduct himself “in a manner that reflects creditably on the House,” according to a copy of the file obtained by The New York Post.
Photos have circulated showing Bowman pulling the alarm with the word “FIRE” clearly written on its face Sept. 30, with signs posted nearby that read “Emergency Exit Only!” and “Push until alarm sounds (3 seconds). Door will unlock in 30 seconds.”
Bowman, 47, issued a statement after the fire alarm prompted an evacuation of the Cannon House Office Building.
“I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door,” Bowman said.
“He simply cannot credibly claim he doesn’t know the difference between a fire alarm and an automatic door button, and it’s clear he did not pull the alarm for a legitimate reason,” FACT Executive Director Kendra Arnold wrote in a letter to Office of Congressional Ethics chief counsel Omar Ashmawy.
“There is no question that he intentionally set off the fire alarm, regardless of whether his motive for doing so was to delay a vote or to use a door that was not permitted,” Arnold also wrote.
Bowman’s spokesman did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Bowman’s office also issued a letter of talking points accusing Republicans of being “Nazis” for harping on his behavior, in response to calls for his expulsion from several GOP senators.
The memo sparked more criticism, prompting the New York politician to publish a second statement in which he claimed the talking points were distributed “without my consent.”
“I condemn the use of the term Nazi out of its precise definition,” he posted on X.
“It is important to specify the term Nazi to refer to members of the Nazi party & neo-Nazis.”
The U.S. Capitol Police have launched an investigation into his behavior.
A Capitol Police representative did not respond to a request for comment.
Bowman’s “continued and intentional abuse of official resources for political purposes” by “regularly” exploiting content from his congressional social media for his campaign account was also noted in FACT’s complaint.
“Clearly these posts appear to come from a government account with government resources—they are not, this is Bowman’s campaign account,” the complaint reads, sharing screenshots of the account reposting some of the congressman’s speeches from the House floor.
“[T]he use of his official title portrays government approval of political content and, along with the use of official House video on this campaign account, confuses viewers as to whether it is a political or official account.”
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
