Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., listens to fellow audio system earlier than President Joe Biden speaks on the debt restrict throughout an occasion at SUNY Westchester Community College, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Valhalla, N.Y.

John Minchillo/AP

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John Minchillo/AP

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., listens to fellow audio system earlier than President Joe Biden speaks on the debt restrict throughout an occasion at SUNY Westchester Community College, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Valhalla, N.Y.

John Minchillo/AP

Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York says he mistakenly triggered a fireplace alarm in a Congressional workplace constructing Saturday afternoon as elected officers had been making ready to vote on a spending invoice to avert a possible authorities shutdown.

Republicans alleged that Bowman was attempting to delay the vote and have known as for him to be punished, however the Democrat said in a statement that the incident occurred as he was dashing to solid his vote and arrived at a closed door that’s often open.

“I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door,” he mentioned. “I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused.”

Bowman emphasised that he was not making an attempt to carry up the House vote. “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.”

The Associated Press reported that the hearth alarm sounded as House Democrats had been hoping to delay a vote on the 71-page stopgap spending measure proposed by Republicans so they might have extra time to learn the invoice.

Both chambers finally accepted a spending invoice Saturday, and President Biden signed it shortly earlier than the midnight deadline, avoiding a authorities shutdown.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, urged that Bowman triggered the hearth alarm on goal to power a authorities shutdown and mentioned the House Ethics Committee should review what occurred.

McCarthy additionally made reference to the rioters who stormed the Capitol constructing on Jan. 6, 2021, to cease the certification of the 2020 presidential election gained by Joe Biden.

“When you think of how other people are treated when they wanted to come in and change the course of what was happening in this building,” McCarthy mentioned.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, said on Saturday that he hadn’t seen the video of Bowman pulling the hearth alarm and “until I see the video I’ll have no further comment.”

Paul Starks, a spokesperson for the United States Capitol Police, mentioned a fireplace alarm was activated at 12:05 p.m. Saturday on the second ground of the Cannon House Office Building. USCP officers initiated an evacuation and checked the constructing, he added.

“The building was reopened after it was determined that there was not a threat,” Starks mentioned. “An investigation into what happened and why continues.”

Bowman mentioned he met with the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police after the vote to clarify what occurred.