Former President Donald Trump is concerned about the fate of Democratic New York Representative Jamaal Bowman, who is accused of pulling a fire alarm in a House office building before a vote on government spending.
Trump made reference to the break-in at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. This incident delayed the process of certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory, as the Daily Wire reported.
“Will Congressman Jamal Bowman be prosecuted and imprisoned for very dangerously pulling and setting off the main fire alarm system in order to stop a Congressional vote that was going on in D.C.” Trump said in his post.
“His egregious act is covered on tape, a horrible display of nerve and criminality,” Trump added, alluding to an image posted to social media. “It was a very dangerous ‘Obstruction of an Official Proceeding,’ the same as used against our J-6 prisoners. Actually, his act may have been worse. HE MUST SUFFER THEIR SAME FATE. WHEN WILL HIS TRIAL BEGIN???”
According to the Department of Justice, more than 1,100 persons have been prosecuted in connection with January 6, with many facing charges related to delaying an official proceeding.
Some of the accused have already been convicted of their crimes. Some of the January 6 suspects are being held in a jail in Washington, DC, and Republicans have voiced alarm about the conditions there.
Trump, who is competing for reelection to the presidency in 2024, is also working to defend himself against obstruction allegations in a 2020 election case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.
Beyond Trump, others have also called for consequences for Bowman citing January 6.
“How is it that Rep. Jamal Bowman (D-NY) can pull a fire alarm during a vote, which is clearly ‘interfering with a legislative proceeding,’ and there be no ramifications?” Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) asked in a post to X.
“Yet, protestors from across the country who came to Washington on January 6th are serving hard time in prison for doing less!#EqualJustice?”
Bowman, who is now under investigation for the fire alarm incident, issued a statement insisting that he made an error in the Cannon House Office Building while on his way to a vote on a spending bill in the adjacent U.S. Capitol Building.
“Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today 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,” Bowman said.
The congressman further denied that the use of the fire alarm as a delay tactic in the spending dispute was responsible for the 45-day continuing resolution that was finally passed to keep the government open.
“But I want to be very clear, this was not me, in any way, trying to delay any vote,” Bowman said. “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.”
