"Jamaal Bowman censured for Capitol fire alarm stunt"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Washington Post
The Republican-led House has voted to censure Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman for pulling a fire alarm in September, causing the evacuation of a House office building during efforts to avert a government shutdown. The resolution passed largely along party lines, with Bowman becoming the 27th House member to be censured. The resolution was sponsored by a Republican representative who accused Bowman of causing chaos and hindering House business. Democrats criticized the censure as trivial and a waste of time, highlighting the lack of censure for colleagues involved in the January 6th election overturn attempt. Bowman, who pleaded guilty to the charge, explained that he pulled the fire alarm by mistake while rushing to vote. The censure vote comes as the House increasingly uses this symbolic punishment against members.