The House Ethics Committee has opted against taking disciplinary measures against Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), declining to initiate an inquiry into his false activation of a fire alarm in a congressional building last year.

The decision follows a recommendation from the Office of Congressional Ethics suggesting an investigation into allegations that Bowman "may have willfully or knowingly given a false alarm" to disrupt congressional proceedings.

Jamaal Bowman escapes House Ethics Committee investigation for fire alarm incident https://t.co/g3BJyt14TT https://t.co/g3BJyt14TT

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 25, 2024

The decision

Despite the recommendation, the committee voted against opening an inquiry, citing Bowman's censure by the House in late 2023 on similar charges.

The committee argued that any further action would be rendered moot due to the censure. In a statement, committee members highlighted that "a majority of the House of Representatives voted to censure Representative Bowman for his conduct," emphasizing that the censure resolution included language indicating Bowman knowingly caused a false fire alarm, necessitating the evacuation of the Cannon House Office building and disrupting House proceedings.

Considering the intervening censure, the committee deemed additional review of Bowman's conduct unnecessary.

“A majority of the House of Representatives voted to censure Representative Bowman for his conduct,” committee members wrote in a statement. “The censure resolution included language that Representative Bowman knowingly caused a false fire alarm, forced the evacuation of the Cannon House Office building, and disrupted the work of the House.”

The incident

Bowman was censured on November 9, 2023, after being caught on surveillance camera in late September pulling a fire alarm during a scheduled House vote on a measure to avert a government shutdown.

Initially denying intent, Bowman later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to the false alarm.

He entered a plea deal with the Department of Justice, agreeing to pay a $1,000 fine, author an apology letter to the Capitol Police, and serve three months of probation, all of which Bowman has fulfilled, as confirmed by the committee.

Republicans react

While Republicans have persistently called for further consequences and a formal ethics investigation, the committee's decision to forgo additional scrutiny stands.

On November 22, 2023, the committee voted not to proceed with an investigation, opting to await any recommended action from the Office of Congressional Ethics.

Despite the OCE's subsequent referral after Bowman's censure, lawmakers determined that further review of the matter was unnecessary.

The committee's decision underscores the significance of Bowman's censure by the House as a sufficient measure of accountability for his actions.