Rep. Jamaal Bowman Charged In Infamous Fire Alarm Incident

NEW YORK — Rep. Jamaal Bowman, the Democratic congressman representing New York's 16th congressional district, was charged in Washington D.C. Superior Court on Wednesday with a misdemeanor for the fire alarm incident in a U.S. Capitol office building that took place on September 30.

The misdemeanor count of falsely pulling a fire alarm in D.C. carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison or a $1,000 fine.

In the arrest warrant filed Wednesday, police said the federal building was evacuated and a command post was established in response to the alarm. After reviewing security footage police were asked to be on the lookout for a "black male, bald, in a dark suit, with a pin on their lapel."

A short time later, Bowman admitted that he was the man captured in the security footage.

According to court documents, Bowman has been ordered to appear in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. to be arraigned.

"We finished our investigation," the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement to multiple news outlets on Wednesday. "Our agents gathered all the evidence, packaged it up, and sent the entire case with charges to prosecutors for their consideration."

"I'm thankful for the quick resolution from the District of Columbia Attorney General's office on this issue and grateful that the United States Capitol Police General Counsel's office agreed I did not obstruct nor intend to obstruct any House vote or proceedings," Bowman's office said in a statement Wednesday evening. "I am responsible for activating a fire alarm, I will be paying the fine issued, and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped."

Bowman's office told multiple media outlets on Wednesday that the congressman has an agreement with the D.C. Attorney General to withdraw the charge in three months if he apologizes to Capitol police and pays the $1,000 fine.

"I think we all know that Republicans will attempt to use this to distract everyone from their mess, but I look forward to putting this behind me and to continue working hard to deliver for New Yorkers," the congressman said on Wednesday.

SEE ALSO: 'I Am Embarrassed To Admit That I Activated The Fire Alarm,' Bowman

Bowman apologized earlier this month for triggering the alarm, characterizing the incident as a mistake that happened while he was rushing to make a key vote needed to avoid a federal government shutdown.

The fire alarm sounded out around noon on September 30 in the Cannon House Office Building and prompted a building-wide evacuation at a time when the House was in session and staffers were working in the building. The building was reopened an hour later after Capitol police determined it was not a threat.

At the time of the evacuation, House Democrats were working to delay a vote on a 45-day stopgap funding bill to keep federal agencies open, according to the AP.

"I want to personally clear up confusion surrounding today’s events," Bowman said in a statement released on the day of the incident. "Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today would not open. I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused."

For his part, Bowman said that political opponents were trying "weaponize" his mistake.

"I want to be very clear, this was not me, in any way, trying to delay any vote," Bowman said in his statement earlier this month. "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. I also met after the vote with the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police, at their request, and explained what had happened. My hope is that no one will make more of this than it was. I am working hard every day, including today, to do my job, to do it well, and deliver for my constituents."

The funding package was ultimately approved 335-91 on September 30, with most Republicans and almost all Democrats, including Bowman, voting to pass the bill.

The AP contributed to this report.