House Speaker Mike Johnson is controversially refusing to swear in Adelita Grijalva, a newly elected Democratic representative, denying her district representation. Grijalva suspects the delay is a calculated move to prevent her from signing a petition to release confidential Jeffrey Epstein files, which would force a difficult vote for Republicans and potentially embarrass Donald Trump.
Adelita Grijalva, the representative-elect for Arizona’s seventh congressional district, has been denied her seat in Congress for weeks due to House Speaker Mike Johnson's refusal to swear her in. Grijalva, a Democrat who won a special election to fill her late father's seat, has been largely ignored, forced to work from a conference room, and requires an escort in the Capitol. This unprecedented procedural abuse is seen as an attempt to silence a political opponent and deny representation to her constituents, defying the will of Arizona voters. Johnson had previously promised to seat her but then delayed the House's return. Grijalva believes the true reason for the delay is to prevent her from becoming the 218th signature needed for a discharge petition. This petition would force a House vote on releasing confidential files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Grijalva has pledged her support, and if she signs, it would compel every Republican member to vote on record, either endorsing the release (displeasing Trump) or opposing it (displeasing voters). The White House is reportedly using this delay to pressure Republicans to withdraw their signatures. The article argues that Johnson is subverting the Constitution and voters' will to protect his party from embarrassment concerning Donald Trump's past association with Epstein. Furthermore, the author warns that this action sets a dangerous precedent for future transfers of power, raising concerns about an outgoing speaker potentially refusing to seat elected members of an opposing party, echoing anxieties about the integrity of democratic processes.
