Late Wednesday afternoon, it was announced that far-left Congresswoman Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) will be facing a single criminal charge for his September 30 pulling of a fire alarm at a House office building the briefly delayed the House’s passing of a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown. Given how the “big three” of ABC, CBS, and NBC barely covered the initial incident, it’s not surprise none of the Wednesday evening flagship newscast covered it.
But just as unsurprising was the fact that the Fox News Channel’s flagship newscast Special Report was all over it with a full, two-minute-and-53-second report. Host Bret Baier announced the breaking news that “Democratic congressman who pulled the fire alarm before a House spending vote will surrender to Capitol Police tomorrow.”
Congressional correspondent Aishah Hasnie explained from the Hill that Bowman was “charged with a misdemeanor in D.C. Superior Court” and will need “to surrender to U.S. Capitol Police to be fingerprinted.”
“[T]his charge is for falsely pulling a fire alarm three weeks ago during a House vote on a GOP bill to keep the government open...According to court documents obtained by Fox News, Bowman told police that, when he did this, he didn’t tell anyone he pulled the fire alarm and simply just left,” she added.
Speaking to Fox cameras, Bowman boasted how he was “happy for a quick resolution” for something that he “shouldn’t have done.” He also revealed that his punishment will only be “a $1,000 fine and [in] three months, as long as I stay out of trouble...the charges will be dismissed.”
Asked whether he has any regrets, Bowman refused to go that far and instead described it as “a lapse in judgment, if you will” in which he “was in a rush trying to get to a vote” and “had a brain freeze.”
“So, you know, it was — you know, it wasn’t like a, you know, conscious decision to do something wrong,” he added.
Hasnie then went to sound of Congressman Matt Lawler (R-NY) to represent how Republicans aren’t “buy[ing]” Bowman’s excuses.
Was Wednesday a busy news night? No doubt about it as there wasn’t even time for a puffball human interest story on any of the network.
But if this were a Republican, there’s no doubt ABC’s World News Tonight, the CBS Evening News, and NBC Nightly News would find a way to work this story in and maybe a few seconds less on, say, promoting the Hamas propaganda of the day and their dubious death tolls.
To see the relevant FNC transcript from October 25, click “expand.”
FNC’s Special Report with Bret Baier
October 25, 2023
6:09 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Breaking Tonight; Fire Alarm Incident; Congressman Bowman Criminally Charged]
BRET BAIER: Breaking tonight, the Democratic congressman who pulled the fire alarm before a House spending vote will surrender to Capitol Police tomorrow. Jamaal Bowan [sic] — Bowman is facing a criminal charge. Congressional correspondent Aishah Hasnie has the latest on this breaking news tonight from Capitol Hill. Good evening, Aishah.
AISHAH HASNIE: Good evening to you, Bret. We’re learning tonight that Congressman Jamaal Bowman of New York has been charged with a misdemeanor in D.C. Superior Court. He will be in court tomorrow morning at 9:30, Bret. He will also, as you mention, have to surrender to U.S. Capitol Police to be fingerprinted. Now, this charge is for falsely pulling a fire alarm three weeks ago during a House vote on a GOP bill to keep the government open. At the time, you’ll remember, House Democrats were trying to stall that vote. According to court documents obtained by Fox News, Bowman told police that, when he did this, he didn’t tell anyone he pulled the fire alarm and simply just left. Now, he just reacted to Fox News moments ago about this charge saying that he has struck a plea agreement and he claims that Capitol Police agree with him that he did notes obstruct those House proceedings. Watch this.
CONGRESSMAN JAMAAL BOWMAN (D-NY): I’m happy for a quick resolution. You know, as I said from the beginning, I pulled the fire alarm as I was going out the door. I shouldn’t have done that. And so, the D.C. AG did what they had to do. [SCREEN WIPE] I have to pay a $1,000 fine and, three months as long as I stay out of trouble the case will be dismissed. The charges will be dismissed.
FOX REPORTER [TO BOWMAN]: Do you regret your decision at all?
BOWMAN: I mean, it was a — it was a lapse in judgment, if you will. I was in a rush trying to get to a vote, had a brain freeze. You know, pulled the alarm and opened the door. Didn’t work. And then rushed to get to my vote. So, you know, it was — you know, it wasn’t like a, you know, conscious decision to do something wrong.
HASNIE: So, he’s saying he’s just going to have to pay a $1,000 fine and just stay out of trouble for three months and this will all go away. House Republicans from New York, though, are sounding off on this misdemeanor charge. They don’t buy it.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Breaking Tonight; Fire Alarm Incident; Republicans React to Bowman Charge]
CONGRESSMAN MIKE LAWLER (R-NY): He’s gonna have to answer for that. There was clearly no reason to pull the fire alarm. Anyone understands, certainly a former middle school principal, would understand that pulling a fire alarm and setting it off and going past multiple Capitol Hill police officers and not informing anybody that it was an accident or that you didn’t mean to do that certainly would give people the indication that it was intentional.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Breaking Tonight; Fire Alarm Incident; Congressman Bowman Criminally Charged]
HASNIE: And, Bret, back when this happened, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had called for an ethics investigation but then he was shortly soon after ousted. We never heard a formal announcement of an ethics investigation. Bret?
BAIER: Okay. We’ll follow that court hearing tomorrow. Aishah Hasnie live on the Hill. Aishah, thanks.
