News/Commentary

Heritage Foundation goes after Bowman for pulling alarm, asks feds for charges similar to Jan. 6 rioters

October 6, 2023 | | Print Article

The Heritage Foundation is going after Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) for pulling a fire alarm during contentious talks over a government shutdown, referring him to the feds over it.

The conservative watchdog group has referred the radical leftist lawmaker for criminal prosecution following the incident that took place inside the House of Representatives building.

The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project is contending that Bowman broke federal and local laws following an announcement by Republicans that they were pushing forward a stopgap spending bill as a continuing resolution (CR) to the House floor. A number of Democrats were reportedly caught off guard by the move, whining they didn’t have enough time to read it.

“In a letter reviewed exclusively by Fox News Digital, Heritage claims Bowman’s list of potential criminal violations includes a federal obstruction statute, which has been used by the Justice Department to prosecute alleged rioters who entered the Capitol [on] Jan. 6, 2021, and calls for prison time of up to five years,” Fox News reported.

“Rep. Bowman’s actions violated federal law in addition to D.C. criminal law. The Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigations have made ample use of similar legal theories recently to investigate and prosecute individuals across the country,” the letter charges.

The letter was sent to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and the leaders of the U.S. Capitol Police and D.C. Metropolitan Police departments on Thursday.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress… shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years,” the federal statute being applied to Bowman’s scandalous action reads.

“The D.C. codes Heritage suggests Bowman violated say it’s a misdemeanor ‘for any person or persons to willfully or knowingly give a false alarm of fire within the District of Columbia,’ and that anyone who ‘corruptly, or by threats of force, any way obstructs or impedes or endeavors to obstruct or impede the due administration of justice in any official proceeding,’ can be sentenced to prison for at least 3 years,” Fox News wrote.

The president of the Oversight Project, Mike Howell, blasted the federal government in the letter for having “come under significant scrutiny from the American public in recent years due to politicization and weaponization against your political adversaries.”

He went on to reference an interview that was aired on CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Oct. 1, where Garland declared, “We do not have one rule for Republicans and another rule for Democrats. We don’t have one rule for foes and another for friends. … We have only one rule; and that one rule is that we follow the facts and the law, and we reach the decisions required by the Constitution, and we protect civil liberties.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“Similarly, at a recent Congressional hearing, Director Wray denied a double standard at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, stating, ‘The idea that I’m biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane to me, given my own personal background,’” Howell pointed out in the letter.

“This case presents an opportunity for course correction. The law should be enforced equally and without regard to political party,” he asserted.

Bowman claims he made an honest mistake when he pulled the fire alarm, stating that he was trying to open a door that was locked. That claim is almost impossible to believe especially for a former school teacher and principal. He is currently under investigation by Capitol Police over the incident.

“You know, I don’t know why this has gotten so much attention,” Bowman told reporters. “I was literally just in a rush to go vote, man.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Republicans aren’t buying it and want Bowman expelled from Congress.

His office sent out an internal memo to Democrats asking them to defend him publicly with talking points included.

One of those talking points in Bowman’s memo, “Messaging Guidance: Supporting Congressman Jamaal Bowman After Accidental Fire Alarm,” targeted “Nazi members” of the GOP.

“I believe Congressman Bowman when he says this was an accident,” Bowman’s proposed talking point reads. “Republicans need to instead focus their energy on the Nazi members of their party before anything else.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Conducting damage control after the memo leaked, Bowman took to X claiming he did not approve it and that it was an “inappropriate use” of the term.

The Democrat is also getting heat from his own party over the stunt. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (D-NY) introduced a resolution to expel him as well.

“This is the United States Congress. It’s not a New York City public high school,” Malliotakis stated on “Fox & Friends” Monday.

“And, of all people, Jamaal Bowman knows the old fire alarm trick because he was a high school principal. And, quite frankly, when he was the high school principal, there were serious ramifications if a student were to do that … including expulsion,” she noted.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) lamely defended Bowman which earned her derision.

“They’re filing a motion to expel a member who in a moment of panic was trying to escape a vestibule,” she claimed. “Give me a break.”

Latest posts by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles