Arizona AG Sues Speaker Johnson Over Delayed Swearing-In of Rep. Adelita Grijalva
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sued House Speaker Mike Johnson to mandate the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva, who won a September special election to succeed her late father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva.
Arizona AG sues Mike Johnson over delay to swear in Adelita Grijalva
Washington Examiner
Overview
- Adelita Grijalva won a special election in September to succeed her late father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, but has faced significant delays in being sworn into Congress.
- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit against House Speaker Mike Johnson, seeking to compel Grijalva's immediate swearing-in as a new member.
- Speaker Johnson has cited the government shutdown and the House not being in session as reasons for the delay, preventing Grijalva from performing legislative duties.
- Some observers and supporters of a bipartisan petition believe the delay is a tactic by House leadership to avoid a vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein records.
- House Democrats' repeated attempts to address Grijalva's swearing-in on the House floor were rebuffed by Republicans, leading to the House adjourning without resolution.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally, presenting the legal and political dispute without taking a side. They detail the lawsuit filed by Arizona's AG and Rep.-elect Grijalva, outlining their arguments and motivations. Crucially, they also include House Speaker Johnson's counter-arguments and explanations, providing a balanced account of the ongoing conflict.
"The lawsuit asks a federal judge to allow someone other than House Speaker Mike Johnson to administer the oath of office."
USA TODAY"The delay in giving Grijalva, the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress, the oath of office leaves over 800,000 people in the southern Arizona district without representation."
Associated Press"The House has not been in session since Sept. 19, when it passed Republicans' short-term measure to fund the government for seven weeks."
CBS News"The lawsuit, which Mayes threatened in a letter to Johnson last week, argues that the speaker’s delay is depriving the 813,000 residents living in Arizona’s 7th District of congressional representation."
NBC NewsArticles (15)
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FAQ
Speaker Johnson cites the ongoing government shutdown, the House not being in session, and intermittent pro forma sessions without full votes as reasons for delaying Grijalva's swearing-in. He has also conditioned her being sworn in on Democrats accepting the House GOP spending plan, though some see the delay as a tactic related to avoiding a vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein records.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit against House Speaker Mike Johnson to mandate the immediate swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva. Mayes also sent a letter threatening legal action if the swearing-in is further delayed.
Grijalva is seen as a pivotal 218th vote needed to sign a discharge petition to begin the release of Jeffrey Epstein records, which some House leadership reportedly wants to avoid by delaying her swearing-in.
Democrats in Congress, including leaders from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Arizona Senators, have pressed Speaker Johnson to swear Grijalva in promptly. Some Republicans have also questioned Johnson's rationale, and there have been bipartisan calls for respecting Arizona voters' decision.
Adelita Grijalva won a special election in September 2025 to succeed her late father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, and is the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress. She launched her campaign following her father's passing and received endorsements from progressive leaders and local officials.
History
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