Speaker Mike Johnson Delays Swearing-In of Arizona Democrat Amid Government Shutdown Tensions

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is under scrutiny after walking back his pledge to swear in newly elected Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva “as soon as she wants.” Johnson now says the ceremony will not take place until Democrats agree to end the ongoing federal government shutdown.

“We will swear in Rep.-Elect Grijalva as soon as the House returns to session when Chuck Schumer, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego decide to open up the government,” a House leadership aide said Tuesday.

The decision comes despite Johnson having sworn in other new members, including Florida Republicans Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, during brief “pro forma” sessions earlier this year. Those short meetings typically occur when Congress is not conducting formal legislative business.

Johnson told CNN earlier Tuesday that the delay had “nothing to do” with politics or the push to vote on the release of Jeffrey Epstein case files, saying, “We’re in pro forma session because there is nothing for the House to do. The House has done its job.”

Still, Grijalva’s supporters and fellow Democrats argue that the delay disenfranchises Arizona voters. The congresswoman-elect, who won her special election two weeks ago, sent a letter to Johnson urging immediate action, saying the holdup “is robbing the people of Southern Arizona of essential constituent services.”

Democratic leaders have condemned the move. Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee, called it “outrageous,” accusing Johnson of undermining democracy. “This is all about a continuation of the Epstein cover-up,” McGovern said Monday.

Grijalva is expected to provide the final signature needed on a petition to force a full House vote to release additional Epstein case materials — though Johnson insists the timing of her swearing-in is unrelated.

The controversy adds to mounting tensions on Capitol Hill, where the government shutdown has entered its second week with no agreement in sight.

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