Representative Johnson has admitted to being fatigued due to working overtime, even though the House has been out of session since September 19th. Despite the government shutdown and the House not being in session, House committees are reportedly still working on legislation. Johnson has also delayed swearing in Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva, potentially due to Grijalva’s ability to be a deciding vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
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Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva and the state of Arizona have filed a lawsuit against the House of Representatives due to Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to seat her nearly a month after her special election victory. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that Johnson’s delay denies Southern Arizonans their full congressional representation. Grijalva’s swearing-in would reduce the GOP’s House advantage and potentially force a vote on releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which is opposed by Republican leadership. Despite Johnson’s assertions that Grijalva can still serve her constituents, she is currently without an office budget, district office, or official communication channels.
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Speaker Mike Johnson faced scrutiny during an ABC News interview for his reluctance to swear in newly elected Representative Adelita Grijalva. Johnson defended his inaction by claiming Grijalva’s situation differed from previous instances where Republicans were sworn in out of session, citing a lack of a set date. Democrats and Grijalva herself have accused Johnson of delaying her swearing-in due to her support for a measure related to releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, which would give her constituents representation in Congress. The House is currently out of session, offering Johnson the opportunity to reopen it and seat Grijalva, as he had the power to do so, previously.
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Johnson refuses to swear in Grijalva, brushing aside Democrats’ legal threat — for now. It appears we’re in the midst of a political standoff, a situation where the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, is refusing to swear in Representative-elect Raúl Grijalva. The stated reason, or at least the public-facing one, is linked to the ongoing government shutdown. Johnson seems to be linking Grijalva’s swearing-in to Senate Democrats agreeing to support House-passed legislation that would end the shutdown. The implication is clear: the Republicans are leveraging the denial of representation to get their way. It’s a classic example of political maneuvering, but the stakes here are quite high.… Continue reading
House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing criticism for delaying the swearing-in of Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, more than three weeks after her special election win. Johnson is blaming Democrats for the hold-up, while simultaneously criticizing Grijalva for not working, despite her inability to perform her duties until she is sworn in. Johnson claims he is following a precedent set by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but this claim is disputed. Many believe Johnson’s delay is due to Grijalva potentially being the deciding vote on a discharge petition related to the release of Jeffrey Epstein files.
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The House of Representatives has blocked Adelita Grijalva from taking her seat after her election in Arizona. Grijalva, who would succeed her late father, threatened to vote in favor of releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, which Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson, are reportedly trying to prevent. Those seeking the release of the files need 218 signatures on a petition to force a vote, with the Democrats currently one signature short. Grijalva has stated she will sign the petition upon taking office.
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Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has threatened legal action against Speaker Mike Johnson if he delays swearing in Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva. Mayes demanded Johnson swear in Grijalva immediately following her victory in a special election, however, Johnson stated she would be sworn in when the House is back in regular session. The attorney general argues that it is now a simple ministerial duty to administer the oath of office given the state has transmitted a certificate of election validating Grijalva’s win. This is happening as Johnson has delayed scheduled votes and kept the House in recess amid the government shutdown.
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House GOP leaders are facing increasing pressure from within their own ranks to reconvene the chamber amid the ongoing government shutdown. A growing number of Republican lawmakers are expressing concern that the continued recess is hurting the party’s image and could benefit Democrats. The pressure stems from the delayed pay of federal workers, and especially the military. While Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested possible solutions, including actions from President Trump, the path forward remains unclear as the stalemate with Senate Democrats continues.
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Speaker Mike Johnson stated that the House will not reconvene until the government shutdown ends, intending to pressure Senate Democrats to support the GOP-led stopgap spending bill. Johnson canceled previously scheduled House votes and announced the cancellation of the upcoming Tuesday session, with further cancellations expected. This decision has drawn criticism from Democratic leaders, who are demanding negotiations for a bipartisan spending bill. Johnson denies these actions are politically motivated, citing the need for lawmakers to assist constituents during the shutdown.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing scrutiny for delaying the swearing-in of Democratic Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, whose signature would trigger a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Johnson claimed the delay was due to the House being in a “pro forma” session, despite having sworn in Republican members during similar sessions. This explanation was challenged by reporters, who noted that Grijalva’s signature would be the 218th on a petition to force a vote on the Epstein files, which Johnson and Donald Trump oppose. Grijalva expressed concern about the precedent the delay sets, and both Democrats and Republicans have called for the files’ release.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood