Congressman Jamaal Bowman pulls fire alarm during crucial House vote: Will he have to resign?

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Jamaal Bowman triggered a fire alarm during a crucial budget vote on Saturday, raising suspicions of an intentional act to disrupt proceedings.

Accidental Alarm Activation

Jamaal Bowman has defended his actions, asserting that the fire alarm activation was purely accidental. According to his account, he was hurrying to cast his vote when he encountered a door that typically opens for voting but was unyielding on this particular occasion. In an official statement, Bowman expressed embarrassment over the incident and explained that he mistakenly believed that triggering the fire alarm would unlock the door. He emphasized that his actions were not intended to delay the vote but rather to urgently participate in it.

«It was the exact opposite — I was trying urgently to get to a vote, which I ultimately did and joined my colleagues in a bipartisan effort to keep our government open,» Bowman stated.

Allegations of Sabotage

Bowman's opponents, primarily Republicans, have challenged his account and accused him of deliberately attempting to disrupt the crucial vote. Brian Steil, a Republican Wisconsin representative and chair of the House administration committee, has confirmed that an investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the fire alarm incident. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has condemned the incident as a «new low» and criticized the Democratic Party's efforts to delay the vote, potentially leading to a government shutdown.

What will happen to Bowman Now?

While the cops have not issued a formal statement regarding the incident yet, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said, “ This is serious, I am going to have a discussion with the Democratic leader about it. But this should not go without