The New York Post’s editorial board has strongly criticized New York Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman for his fire alarm stunt, describing it as “moronically irresponsible and wrong.” Bowman is being investigated by Capitol Police after pulling a fire alarm in one of the House office buildings during the scramble to avert a government shutdown. While Bowman claimed it was a mistake, the Post’s editorial board expressed skepticism, saying there was no way he could have been confused about the purpose of a fire alarm.
The editorial piece also criticized the mainstream media for not giving the incident the attention it would have received if Bowman were a Republican. The Post suggested that if Bowman belonged to the other party, the media would describe it as “an assault on democracy” and a “grave crime against the Republic.” The board highlighted the stark contrast in media coverage when comparing this incident to similar incidents involving Republican lawmakers.
Additionally, the editorial emphasized that what Bowman did is not only irresponsible but also a literal crime, as pulling a fire alarm for fun in Washington, D.C., is a misdemeanor offense. If charged with illegal obstruction of congressional proceedings, he could face felony charges.
The editorial concluded by suggesting that the media’s focus on norms and accountability often falls short when it comes to certain political figures, highlighting what it sees as a double standard in the coverage of such incidents.
Bowman’s actions have been defended by some of his supporters, including fellow Squad member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, but the incident has raised questions about the consequences of his actions and the media’s response to them.
