Kevin McCarthy Compares Jamaal Bowman Pulling Fire Alarm to January 6th Rioters

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) denounced Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) for pulling a fire alarm in a House office building, comparing his actions to the January 6th Capitol riot.

The Democratic lawmaker reportedly pulled the Cannon House Office fire alarm to delay the vote on a House continuing resolution that McCarthy proposed early Saturday morning.

The GOP-controlled Administration Committee said “an investigation why [the fire alarm] was pulled is underway.” A spokesman for Bowman released a statement claiming he “did not realize he would trigger a building alarm as he was rushing to make an urgent vote,” and adding that he “regrets any confusion.”

While speaking to reporters after the bill passed, McCarthy was asked what the consequences should be for Bowman. The California lawmaker vowed to have a discussion with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to determine the correct punishment.

“I think [House] Ethics should look at this but this is serious. When you think of how other people are treated, when they wanted to come in and change the course of what was happening in this building,” McCarthy responded, referring to the January 6th rioters.

“I’m going to have a discussion with the Democratic leader about it. But this should not go without punishment. This is an embarrassment. You’re elected to be a member of Congress. You pulled the fire alarm in a minute of hours before the government being shut down, trying to dictate that government would shut down,” he added.

“What’s going through a person’s mind like that. But we will find the right ability to deal with this,” the speaker concluded.

Watch the full clip above via CNN.