By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Despite Adelita Grijalva’s election victory in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, with nearly 70% of the vote and official certification by the Arizona Secretary of State, she has not been sworn in to the House of Representatives. Speaker Mike Johnson is delaying Grijalva’s swearing-in, using various excuses, and is suspected of doing so because Grijalva is a Democrat whose presence could impact critical votes, like the one involving the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. This obstruction denies representation to 813,000 Arizona residents, and a lawsuit has been filed to address this voter disenfranchisement, emphasizing that the speaker’s actions violate the Constitution and the principles of democratic representation.
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Mike Johnson won’t swear in Adelita Grijalva. So we’re suing. And honestly, it’s not hard to see why this is happening. The suspicion is that Johnson has a lot to protect, namely, the wealthy and powerful individuals who are allegedly tied to some truly horrific acts. There’s a feeling that Grijalva’s presence could trigger something, like a discharge petition, that would expose these individuals, and that’s the last thing he wants. It’s almost as if he’s keeping the House out of session to protect someone. The implications are staggering, potentially threatening the very foundation of our democracy.
This is seen as a direct attack on democracy. If a duly elected representative can’t be seated, what’s the point of elections? Some see it as a clear indication that the Republicans are willing to ignore the law and brazenly defy the Constitution. The lack of accountability for those who break the law is a major point of frustration. The election was certified, and a representative was sent. The lawsuit is the response, and many are hoping it moves forward quickly, though some wonder how long it could drag on.
The feeling is that this whole situation is playing into the hands of those obstructing justice. There’s the fear that they are just editing files, trying to control the narrative. The question is repeatedly asked: is this really a democracy if you have to sue for representation? It’s a sad state of affairs when a basic democratic right requires a court battle. Some are openly wondering if this is the point where the line is crossed, where the actions of those in power qualify as a tyrannical government.
The frustration is palpable. The Democrats need to stop playing games and be more assertive. The focus should be on demanding more, not less, to resolve the situation. There’s a deep suspicion that the true goal isn’t just to cover up the actions of a few individuals, but to protect those who orchestrated the entire network. Some even believe that the people being protected aren’t necessarily the child abusers themselves, but rather, the ones to whom they reported. This whole situation is considered far worse than the Watergate scandal.
The question of what will be released from the Epstein files is being asked. Is the redacted version what we’ll be getting? If so, the public might lose faith, or worse, see it as a complete fraud. It’s viewed as a matter of existential importance for those in power. They cannot afford to fail in this moment. There’s a sense that the fear of a potential reckoning is the main driver behind all this. It’s a “mutually assured destruction” situation where people have damning information on one another. The idea being if one side releases something, the other will release something of equal or greater damaging power.
The situation is seen as a sign of a failing state, with all the powers that be no longer legitimate if they do not follow constitutional law. Some even believe the Supreme Court is actively subverting it. The lawsuit is the first step, but people want it handled swiftly. It’s a test to see how far they can push before there is a breaking point and action is required. There’s a general lack of trust in the system, a fear that the files will be manipulated, and a sense that there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye.