Republicans Delay Swearing-In Adelita Grijalva Amid Epstein Files Vote Standoff

The U.S. government shutdown persists partly due to House Speaker Mike Johnson's refusal to swear in Democrat Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election to represent Arizona's 7th Congressional District. Grijalva's delayed swearing-in prevents her from becoming the crucial 218th vote on a discharge petition that would force a House vote to release unredacted files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which President Donald Trump and Republican leaders oppose. Democrats, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Yassamin Ansari, and Greg Stanton, allege that Johnson’s delay is politically motivated to block the release of these files and leave southern Arizona without congressional representation. Despite Grijalva's efforts to be sworn in early and advocate for government funding negotiations, Johnson cites procedural reasons for the delay, awaiting paperwork from the state. The situation has sparked bipartisan calls for Grijalva's immediate swearing-in, emphasizing the constitutional right to representation and the importance of congressional oversight of the executive branch. Grijalva's eventual swearing-in is expected to be pivotal in advancing transparency regarding the Epstein investigation and in restoring representation for her constituents.