House Speaker Johnson Delays Arizona Rep Grijalva Swearing-In Amid Government Shutdown

Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election for Arizona's 7th Congressional District with nearly 70% of the vote, has yet to be sworn into the House of Representatives, marking the longest delay in U.S. history for a member elected via special election. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Republican, has refused to swear her in during the ongoing federal government shutdown, arguing the House is out of session and citing precedent, despite being able to swear in members during "pro forma" sessions. Critics, including Grijalva and Democrats, accuse Johnson of deliberately delaying her swearing-in to prevent her from becoming the 218th House member supporting a petition to release sensitive Jeffrey Epstein files, a move opposed by President Donald Trump. The delay leaves Arizona's 7th District without representation months after the death of former Congressman Raul Grijalva, Adelita's father. Republican Representative Juan Ciscomani has called for ending the government shutdown to facilitate her swearing-in, placing responsibility on Arizona's senators to negotiate a resolution. The controversy underscores broader political tensions involving control of information and power within the current Republican-controlled government.