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Rep. Jamaal Bowman Condemns Use of ‘Nazi’ in Memo Issued to Democrats By His Office

‘It is important to specify the term Nazi to refer to members of the Nazi party & neo-Nazis’

Published: October 02, 2023
  |   By Chris Karr

Representative Jamaal Bowman has condemned the use of the term “Nazi” in a messaging guidance issued to Democrats by his office in an attempt to rebut criticism from House Republicans.

The memo, titled “Supporting Congressman Jamaal Bowman After Accidental Fire Alarm,” offers a list of suggested talking points for Democrats to use in response to “MAGA Republicans [who] have used this as an opportunity to distract from their attempt to shut the government down and to minimize January 6th insurrectionists.”

The message, obtained by POLITICO, included a talking point referring to Nazis within the Republican party.

“I believe Congressman Bowman when he says this was an accident,” the office wrote, referring to an incident over the weekend when the lawmaker pulled a fire alarm in the House Cannon office building.

“Republicans need to instead focus their energy on the Nazi members of their party before anything else,” the office said.

POLITICO reported that the New York congressman was asking fellow party members to say the statement wasn’t approved by him, according to a source familiar with related conversations.

The congressman quoted the outlet’s article in an X post condemning his office’s use of the term.

“I just became aware that in our messaging guidance, there was inappropriate use of the term Nazi without my consent. I condemn the use of the term Nazi out of its precise definition,” he wrote. “It is important to specify the term Nazi to refer to members of the Nazi party & neo-Nazis.”

“The memo comes as some GOP members have accused Bowman of intentionally trying to stop the high-stakes vote. Bowman pulled a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building ahead of the midnight deadline to pass a measure to fund the government,” The Hill reports. “The fire alarm forced a temporary evacuation of the building, though House members eventually returned and voted on the bill.”

Bowman’s action was criticized by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and fellow Empire State representative Nicole Malliotakis.

“This is a former principal. He knows what a fire alarm is,” McCarthy said during a Fox News appearance. “This is a man that has gone out and yelled at members and his behavior has been unbecoming.”

“What’s interesting is if it was really just an accident when the capitol police came to interview you, why would you lawyer up?” he continued. “Why wouldn’t you just say ‘Oh my gosh! I made a mistake here.’ Why would you let it go on?”


Malliotakis announced on X that she will introduce a resolution to expel Bowman.

“This is the United States Congress, not a New York City high school,” she wrote. “This action warrants expulsion & I’m introducing a resolution to do just that.”

In the messaging guidance, Bowman is quoted as saying he was trying to vote when he pulled the alarm.

“The door that’s usually open wasn’t. … I didn’t mean to cause confusion,” he said. “I didn’t know it was going to trip the whole building. I thought it would help me open the door.”

Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted a video on X in an attempt to dispute Bowman’s claim.

“Let me show you how easy it is to exit the Cannon building if doors are closed for the weekend,” Greene said. “No need to pull a fire alarm, you simply have to walk down some steps. Jamaal Bowman knew what he was doing.”

She added: “He was trying to interrupt the vote. Bowman needs to be arrested and prosecuted on the same charges being used to imprison J6ers” — a reference to those involved in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

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