Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tried to explain how, "in a moment of panic," fellow Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman pulled a fire alarm in a congressional office building, but she quickly pivoted to call out Republicans she says are "protecting" GOP Rep. George Santos, who is facing a 13-count federal indictment.
The alarm-pulling happened Saturday on the same afternoon as the stopgap spending bill vote, which was intended to avert a government shutdown.
Ocasio-Cortez cut off her explanation and responded that Bowman, D-N.Y., is "fully participating" with House administration and U.S. Capitol Police on what she called "a misunderstanding."
Bowman is pictured on surveillance video appearing to pull the alarm in front of two closed doors.
"I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door," Bowman said in a statement released Saturday night, adding that he was urgently trying to get to a vote to keep the government open and not trying to delay the vote.
He said he regrets and apologizes for any confusion his action caused.
After responding to Tapper’s question, Ocasio-Cortez launched into an attack on Republicans, blasting them as hypocrites for apparently seeking to expel Bowman while "protecting" Santos, R-N.Y., who is facing an indictment centered on charges of money laundering and lying to Congress in an earlier financial disclosure.
"But they're filing a motion to expel a member who in a moment of panic was trying to escape a vestibule," she said of Bowman. "Give me a break."
"[Bowman] apologized," Ocasio-Cortez continued, referencing her colleague’s statement. "And [Republicans] are protecting someone who has not only committed wire fraud, not only defrauded veterans, not only lied to congressional investigators, but is openly gloating about it, is absolutely humiliating to the Republican caucus."
The congresswoman concluded that Republicans "should really check their own values."