In a recent development, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) has pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge for falsely pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building. The incident occurred last month, just hours before a crucial House vote. According to The Hill, Bowman appeared in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday for his arraignment, where he expressed remorse for the incident.

Under an agreement with prosecutors, Rep. Bowman will pay a $1,000 fine and write an apology to the Capitol Police. During the arraignment, D.C. Magistrate Judge Dorsey Jones asked Bowman to enter a plea, to which he responded with a guilty plea. Following his plea, Bowman addressed reporters, stating that he feels relieved and hopes to put the incident behind him.

Although Bowman has maintained that the alarm pull was accidental, prosecutors argued that he pulled the alarm despite being aware that there was no fire or emergency. They also highlighted that Bowman failed to inform a police officer about his involvement after pulling the alarm. The false alarm led to a building evacuation and caused significant confusion among occupants.

The fire alarm incident took place just before a House vote on a stopgap measure to fund the government, just hours before a looming shutdown deadline. Some Republicans accused Bowman of deliberate sabotage, with a few even calling for his expulsion. In response, a group of House Republicans introduced a bill to censure Bowman.

Responding to these allegations, Bowman expressed his willingness to cooperate and stated that he was not trying to disrupt any congressional proceedings. He described the incident as an accident, explaining that he believed pulling the alarm would open a closed door, allowing him to reach the vote. However, he acknowledged that his actions violated D.C. law and accepted responsibility for his actions.

The Capitol Police conducted an investigation into the incident and subsequently forwarded the case to prosecutors for consideration. Addressing reporters before entering the courthouse, Bowman disclosed that he had been processed at Capitol Police headquarters earlier that day but declined to provide further details.

As part of the plea agreement, Rep. Jamaal Bowman has taken accountability for the fire alarm incident and has pledged to provide an apology to the Capitol Police. With the misdemeanor charge now resolved, Bowman hopes to move forward and focus on his legislative duties in the coming months.