Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman has sparked more fury just two days after setting off a fire alarm during a crucial Congressional vote.
His office sent out a memo criticizing ‘Nazi’ Republicans – as members of the GOP circulate a bid to have him expelled from Congress.
Bowman has now apologized, and insists the memo was sent without his ‘consent’.
But the progressive lawmaker from New York is still the target of Republicans who claim he deliberately set off the fire alarm to delay a vote to avoid shutting down the government.
Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman has sparked more fury just two days after setting off a fire alarm during a crucial Congressional vote
His office sent out a memo criticizing ‘Nazi’ Republicans – as members of the GOP circulate a bid to have him expelled from Congress
Bowman’s office sent out the memo to other Democrats on Monday, giving suggestions for how they should rally around him.
It included the prompt that they should say to the media: ‘I believe Congressman Bowman when he says this was an accident. Republicans need to instead focus their energy on the Nazi members of their party before anything else.’
The Democratic congressman later said: ‘I just became aware that in our messaging guidance, there was inappropriate use of the term Nazi without my consent.
‘I condemn the use of the term Nazi out of its precise definition. It is important to specify the term Nazi to refer to members of the Nazi party & neo-Nazis.’
Republicans have said Bowman should get the same treatment as January 6 defendants as the Capitol Police investigates.
He insists it was a simple mistake, and that pulling the alarm would open an emergency exit covered with signs.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., left, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., argue on the steps of the Capitol in May
Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis has introduced the resolution to have Bowman kicked out of the House of Representatives.
‘It’s not just the act of pulling a fire alarm. It was during an official proceeding. That is the same thing that they have gone after those individuals who walked into the Capitol on Jan. 6th,’ she told Fox and Friends on Monday.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has defended her Democratic colleague, saying he had a ‘moment of panic’.
Ocasio Cortez said: ‘I think there’s something to be said that the government’s about to shut down, there’s a vote clock that’s going down, the exits that are normally open in that building were suddenly closed…’
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said her colleague had a ‘moment of panic’
The incident happened at about 12:05 p.m. Saturday and the U.S. Capitol Police are still investigating.
Police said it led to people being evacuated ‘floor-by-floor’ from the Cannon Building, an office building connected to Congress.
A spokesman said: ‘A man was seen trying to exit the door in the Cannon Building and then pulling the fire alarm that prompted the evacuation.’
They said the officers ‘had previously placed signs with clear language that explained the door was secured and marked as an emergency exit only.’
The congressman said: ‘As I was rushing to make a vote I came to a door that is usually open for votes but would not open.
‘I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused.’
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