Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defends Jamaal Bowman over fire alarm as GOP file motion to expel

The Independent

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez vehemently defended her democratic colleague Jamaal Bowman after it emerged he triggered a fire alarm during a vote on government funding in the House.  Republican Nicole Malliotakis, has drafted a motion to expel Mr Bowman from the chamber, accusing him of trying to delay the vote.  Ms Ocasio-Cortez told CNN’s Jake Tapper that the GOP caucus should “check their own values”, as they file a motion against Bowman while “protecting” Congressman Santos who has been charged with fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds.  Mr Bowman said he was "rushing to vote" and when a door would not open, he "activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door".

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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]

00:06 13 federal charges, he's indicted on everything from wire fraud

00:12 to actual lying of house investigators.

00:16 And they have been buddying up and giggling with him on the House floor.

00:21 And they are protecting someone who has lied to the American people,

00:24 lied to the United States House of Representatives,

00:27 lied to congressional investigators.

00:29 But they're filing a motion to expel a member who,

00:32 in a moment of panic, was trying to escape a vestibule.

00:37 Give me a break.

00:38 And so the idea that there is somehow any kind of equivalence to someone who is

00:43 actively trying to clear up a situation that he himself admits he's embarrassed.

00:48 He released a statement last night, he apologized.

00:51 And they are protecting someone who has not only committed wire fraud,

00:55 not only defrauded veterans, not only lied to congressional investigators.

01:00 But is openly gloating about it,

01:03 is absolutely humiliating to the Republican caucus.

01:07 And I think that they should really check their own values.

01:09 >> There's another Republican who's been indicted also that they've been

01:12 defending, but we don't have the time to go into all of those charges, 91 of them.

01:18 Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, thanks for being here.

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