The House Ethics Committee has opted not to open an investigation into Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) over his pulling of a fire alarm in a Capitol Hill office building while the lower chamber was preparing to vote on a bill to avert a government shutdown.
The panel declined to set up an investigative subcommittee or issue a report after Bowman copped to a misdemeanor last month for wrongly triggering the alarm Sept. 30, according to a Wednesday statement by Chairman Michael Guest (R-Miss.).
On Oct. 26, Bowman pleaded guilty to one count of falsely pulling the alarm and agreed to pay a $1,000 fine as part of an agreement with DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb that will see the charges dismissed after three months.
He also pledged to write a personal apology letter to US Capitol Police chief Tom Manger.
“I’m thankful for the quick resolution from the D.C. Attorney General’s office on this issue and grateful that the United States Capitol Police General Counsel’s office agreed I did not obstruct nor intend to instruct any House vote or proceedings,” Bowman, 57, said in a statement after the plea was announced.
“I think we all know that Republicans will attempt to use this to distract everyone from their mess, but I look forward to putting this behind me and to continue working hard to deliver for New Yorkers,” he added.
A spokesperson for US Capitol Police said in a subsequent statement: “Our General Counsel did not, nor anyone in our Department, make that determination. We sent the thoroughly investigated case to the US Attorney’s Office and prosecutors there did not pursue it.”
A Capitol Police investigator detailed in a report of the incident that there was “probable cause to believe” Bowman “willfully or knowingly gave a false fire alarm.”
The Bronx and Westchester Democrat maintained beforehand that he “thought the alarm would open the door” and pulled it by “accident.”
“I was just trying to get to my vote and the door that’s usually open wasn’t open, it was closed,” he said after the incident.
But security camera footage shows Bowman yanking two emergency exit signs from the doors before pulling the fire alarm — and then fleeing the scene.
The Capitol Police investigator said other security footage reveals the Democratic socialist “jogging” down a staircase after tripping the Cannon House Office Building fire alarm and “walking at a normal pace” when exiting onto New Jersey Ave.
Bowman later passed at least seven Capitol Police officers without telling them about his “accident,” which forced an evacuation of the building that lasted for an hour and a half, according to the investigator.
The House later passed the government funding measure, which kept federal spending at current levels until Nov. 17.
Under House Speaker Mike Johnson, a further bill was passed last week to extend funding into next year.
Bowman will return for a court hearing on Jan. 29, 2024, to assess his compliance with the plea agreement and consider dismissing the charge.
A spokeswoman for his office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.