Allowing Rep. Jamaal Bowman to enter into a plea agreement and pay a fine for pulling a fire alarm as members of the House were heading into chambers to vote on a continuing resolution on Sept. 30 is "disparate treatment," considering how others were prosecuted for impeding an official process in the Jan. 6, 2021 protests, Rep. Andy Biggs said on Newsmax Thursday.
The continuing resolution was to keep the government open and funded.
"I know he might not think it's a very big deal, but think of all the personnel that he took off the line for first responders around this city because he pulled that alarm," the Arizona Republican said on Newsmax's "American Agenda."
Bowman, D-N.Y., agreed to plead guilty to falsely triggering the fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building. The agreement allows the charges to be dropped in three months in exchange for a $1,000 fine and a formal apology. The congressman has said he pulled the alarm to open the door to go to vote, not to intentionally delay the ballot.
But Biggs said that he and other lawmakers were there a few minutes before Bowman arrived, and saw signs saying that the door was closed, and decided to go another way.
"So he's one of two things," said Biggs. "He's either incredibly dumb, which I know him and I've heard him in committee. He is not incredibly dumb. He was doing something derogatory. We were there for a vote. He impeded the vote. He impeded me from going back to my office — and others."
That means Bowman should have gotten the same treatment others have gotten who are accused of impeding a vote, being "charged and prosecuted," said Biggs.
Biggs also commented on new House Speaker Mike Johnson and whether Democrats will work with Republicans to avoid a government shutdown.
"They haven't indicated very much that they're going to work with Republicans other than try to prosecute and file ethics charges against us," Biggs said, adding that he does expect a "massive spending CR" from the Senate.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, he added, is "willing to do pretty much whatever" Senate Majoriy Leader Chuck Schumer wants."
"I know ... Speaker Johnson is going to fight that as much as you possibly can, but I am confident that the Democrats don't want to do a short-term spending CR and work through the 12 budget bills that we're trying to get over to them right now," said Biggs.
Johnson, he added, is "trying to pick up those pieces."
"We've been on the floor debating those bills today and last night and yesterday since he became speaker," said Biggs. "Speaker Johnson is going to do a great job fighting this thing through, trying to get us back on an even keel. And I'm really excited for his future and the future of the country because of his tremendous skill as leader."
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