An investigation has been launched after a congressman in the US
House of Representatives triggered a fire alarm as his party was trying to
delay a crucial budget vote on Saturday.
Jamaal Bowman, a New York Democrat, says it was an accident.
But his opponents have accused him of trying to disrupt the vote
designed to avoid a US federal government shutdown.
The alarm prompted an hour-long evacuation. A deal was eventually agreed to avoid the shutdown.
The alarm went off as Democrats were attempting to delay the vote as they sought more time to read the bill and decide whether to support it.
· US Congress avoids government shutdown in last-minute deal
"Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door
that is usually open for votes but today would not open. I am embarrassed to
admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the
door," Mr Bowman said in a statement.
He added that he was not "in any way, trying to delay any
vote".
"It was the exact opposite - I was trying urgently to get
to a vote, which I ultimately did, and joined my colleagues in a bipartisan
effort to keep our government open."
But Republicans have accused him of deliberately attempting to
sabotage the vote.
Brian Steil, a Republican Wisconsin representative, and chair of
the House administration committee, announced that an investigation was underway.
Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called it a "new
low".
"I was really appalled watching Democrats' actions today,
to delay it, to get a shutdown," he said.
The bill keeps the government funded until 17 November.
President Joe Biden signed it into law minutes before the midnight deadline.
The proposal was put forward by Mr McCarthy as he fought off a
rebellion by hard-liners in his own party.
If Congress had failed to keep the government open, the closures
would have delayed salaries for millions of federal employees and military
personnel.
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