"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. ...
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” ― George Bernard Shaw