The U.S. House of Representatives was scheduled to convene on Friday for a brief legislative session during the ongoing government shutdown. Democrats aimed to swear in Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election over three weeks ago but has not yet taken the oath of office.
Adelita Grijalva, a lifelong Arizona resident, has a background as a program director in Pima County’s juvenile court system and has held positions on local school and political boards. Aged 54 and a mother of three, she ventured into federal politics by running for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District after her father, Raul, a long-time Congressman, passed away due to cancer earlier this year.
The delay in Grijalva’s swearing-in has sparked controversy, with accusations that House Speaker Mike Johnson, from Louisiana, is intentionally stalling to prevent her from casting a pivotal vote on demands for greater transparency in investigations related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender with ties to Donald Trump.
The political impasse has intensified amid the government shutdown, with Johnson attributing the delay to Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer. The issue prompted a letter from Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader, urging Johnson to swear in Grijalva promptly to uphold the integrity of the House.
The situation has drawn attention to the contrasting treatment of other newly elected representatives in recent special elections, who were swiftly sworn in. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes even threatened legal action against Johnson for the prolonged delay, claiming that over 800,000 Arizonans are without representation as a result.
The dispute surrounding Grijalva’s swearing-in is further complicated by the Epstein factor. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie’s efforts to push for the release of federal files on Epstein have created tensions, as Grijalva’s potential vote could be decisive in triggering the release. Democrats allege that Johnson’s delay tactics are linked to avoiding any vote related to Epstein, a controversial issue that has ensnared the Trump administration.
The saga surrounding Epstein’s criminal activities and his associations with prominent figures like Trump and Bill Clinton continues to fuel speculation and political maneuvering among lawmakers. The unresolved situation underscores the broader political divisions and power struggles within Congress.
