Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez bolted to the defense of fellow New York representative Jamaal Bowman after he apparently pulled the fire alarm on Capitol Hill — claiming he acted out of “panic” to open a door as Democrats were trying to stall the vote for the government funding bill.
“I think if you actually do see some of the photos of the signs, I think there’s something to be said about, the government’s about to shut down, there’s a vote clock that’s going down, the exits that are normally open in that building were suddenly closed,” Ocasio-Cortez said while speaking to CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday.
Tapper then replied, “So he pulled the fire alarm?”
Ocasio-Cortez responded that Bowman apologized for the incident — which was caught on camera — and insisted the far-left lawmaker was cooperating with officials’ investigation.
Adding to her defense, AOC took aim at Republicans for being so quick to demand Bowman’s expulsion over an honest mistake — and blasted her GOP colleagues for being far more understanding when George Santos was indicted on 13 federal charges.
“They are protecting someone who has lied to the American people. Lied to the United States House of Representatives. Lied to congressional investigators. But they’re filing a motion to expel a member who, in a moment of panic, was trying to escape a vestibule? Give me a break,” Ocasio-Cortez told Tapper.
“He himself admits, he’s embarrassed. He released a statement last night, he apologized,” she added.
While he continues to take heat for the incident, Bowman has maintained that he pulled the alarm handle because he thought it would open the door — which Democrats claim was usually unlocked and had confusing signage.
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“I was rushing to make a vote, I was trying to get through a door. I thought the alarm would open the door,” he said.
“I didn’t mean to cause confusion . . . I didn’t know it was going to trip the whole building.”
He also added: “I want to be very clear, this was not me, in any way, trying to delay the vote. It was the exact opposite — I was trying urgently to get to a vote, which I ultimately did.”
Bowman said he “met with the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police” and explained his side of the story, adding: “My hope is that no one will make more of this than what it was.”
While on CNN Sunday, AOC also said she “absolutely” intends to back a motion to topple House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
“Absolutely. I think Kevin McCarthy is a very weak speaker. He clearly has lost control of his caucus,” she said.
“I certainly don’t think that we would expect to see that unless there’s a real conversation between the Republican and Democratic caucuses,” she said. “I don’t think we [will] give up votes for free.”
