New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman leaves the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 9, 2023.Photo:Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman says he regrets “posting anything about"9/11conspiracy theories afterDaily Beastsurfaced a troublesome blog post from when the congressman worked as a middle school principal.
In a statement sent to PEOPLE on Tuesday, the progressive Democrat claimed the controversial post in question was the result of research for a potential doctorate degree, saying, “Well over a decade ago, as I was debating diving into a doctoral degree, I explored a wide range of books, films, and articles across a wide swath of the political spectrum and processed my thoughts in a personal blog that few people ever read. Having since learned how misinformation spreads, I regret posting anything about any of these people.”
He added, “As a Congressman, I’ve written a Congressional Resolution condemning a dangerous conspiracy theory, I’ve stood up to MAGA extremists, and I’ve called out the endless bulls— of the far-right.”
Michael M. Santiago/Getty
The Beast’s report found that in 2011, Bowman posted free-verse poetry stoking skepticism about the terrorist attacks on his personal blog.
The poem’s first stanza about 9/11 reads: “2001/Planes used as missiles/Target: The Twin Towers, Later in the day/Building 7/Also Collaspsed [sic]/Hmm…/Multiple explosions/Heard before/And during the collapse/Hmm…”
The two other planes downed in the attacks — Flight 93 and Flight 77 — both resulted in the deaths of all passengers, with the one that struck the Pentagon also killing 125 people inside the building. Both planes left behind considerable debris.
Perkins is an author who’s been criticized as a conspiracy theorist; as the Beast notes, Cooper was “a radio host and hero of the militia movement—and of Oklahoma City bomberTimothy McVeigh”; Moore and Curtis are left-wing documentarians; and Joseph is the director ofZeitgeist,a conspiracy-laden film that pushes fantastical narratives about 9/11.
“I don’t believe anything that these cranks have said,” Bowman asserted in his statement on Tuesday, “and my life’s work has proven that.”
Critics were quick to suggest that he pulled the alarm — which set off an evacuation of the building — intentionally to delay the vote on shutdown negotiations, though Bowman insisted it was a mistake.
“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,” Bowman said in a statement after the incident. “I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused.”
source: people.com
