The U.S. House of Representatives was scheduled to convene on Friday for a pro forma legislative session amidst the ongoing three-week government shutdown. Democrats emphasized the urgent need to swear in Adelita Grijalva, who emerged victorious in a special election over three weeks ago but has not yet taken the oath of office.
Adelita Grijalva, a native of Arizona, has a background in serving as a program director for a juvenile court in Pima County and holding elected positions in local school and political boards. Aged 54, she is married and has three children. Grijalva transitioned into federal politics to contest for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, left vacant following her father Raul’s passing earlier this year after over 20 years of service in Congress.
The delay in Grijalva’s swearing-in has raised concerns among Democrats, who accuse House Speaker Mike Johnson of intentionally postponing her entry, fearing her potential influence on a critical vote regarding calls for increased transparency in investigations related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced child sex offender linked to Donald Trump.
The government shutdown since October 1 has hindered the scheduling of floor votes, with Johnson blaming Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer for the impasse. Despite assurances of swearing in Grijalva promptly, Johnson’s actions have drawn criticism from Democrats and prompted demands for her immediate seating to uphold the integrity of the House.
Furthermore, the delay has sparked legal threats from Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, citing the denial of representation to over 813,000 Arizonans due to the delay. Democrats allege that Johnson’s reluctance to swear in Grijalva is tied to avoiding a vote on legislation concerning Epstein, a contentious issue that has implications for the Trump administration.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie’s efforts to force the release of federal files on Epstein through a discharge petition have added to the political tensions, with Grijalva poised to support the petition once sworn in. The evolving dynamics surrounding the Epstein case and its potential repercussions on high-profile individuals have fueled the ongoing dispute over Grijalva’s delayed entry into Congress.
In the face of mounting pressure and legal threats, the standoff over Grijalva’s swearing-in underscores the deep-rooted political divisions and high-stakes implications surrounding the Epstein investigations within the U.S. House of Representatives.