Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman Criminally Charged, Must Report to Police for Arraignment

Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York has been charged with a misdemeanor in connection with a fire alarm being pulled in a congressional office build last month.

A warrant was issued Wednesday charging Bowman with a misdemeanor count of falsely pulling a fire alarm — carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail.

Bowman will be arraigned Thursday in D.C. Superior Court, according to NBC.

The Sept. 30 incident came amid efforts by the House Republican majority to have a vote on a continuing resolution that would keep the government running.

The Capitol Police affidavit supporting the arrest warrant noted that after the alarm was pulled at the Cannon House Office Building, leading to an evacuation of the building, Capitol Police “observed security camera footage that resulted in a radio run for a lookout for a black male, bald, in a dark suit, dark tie, with a pin on their lapel.”

“The defendant advised that the doors stated, ’emergency exit only push to open,’ he pushed on the door and pulled the lever next to it, which must have been the alarm,” the affidavit said. “The defendant stated the door still did not open and he went to the first floor to exit. Your affiant asked the defendant if he heard alarm sounds or saw strobes and he stated ‘yes.’”

“The defendant was asked if he told anyone about this and the defendant stated he did not tell anyone, and that he was hurried because votes were called, and he did not want to miss the votes to keep the government funded,” the affidavit said.