Arizona’s Adelita Grijalva Faces Unexpected Delays in Congressional Swearing-In
Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., speaks outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Adelita Grijalva, who recently secured a congressional seat in Arizona, finds herself facing unexpected hurdles before officially joining the 119th Congress. Despite having access to her office, she lacks essential resources, including staff, phones, and computers, due to a delay in her swearing-in ceremony.
The delay, attributed to ongoing partisan tensions, has left Grijalva in a state of uncertainty. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has stated that the swearing-in will occur once the government shutdown concludes, diverging from his previous practice of quickly swearing in new members.
“This is the process of the House, we’ll do it as soon as we get back to business,” Johnson explained. He has been criticized for allegedly stalling to avoid a vote on releasing Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. These files are the subject of a bipartisan petition that Grijalva promised to support during her campaign.
Grijalva’s election victory on September 23rd in Arizona’s 7th congressional district, which encompasses parts of Tucson, has brought her into the spotlight. Her commitment to the Epstein files petition, which would reach the crucial 218th signature with her support, has added to the controversy surrounding her delayed swearing-in.
Amidst accusations of conspiracy, Grijalva remarked, “I remember on election night, someone came up to me and said, ‘I don’t think they’re going to swear you in because of those Epstein files,'” dismissing it initially as a far-fetched theory.
Johnson has dismissed claims of deliberate delay as a “partisan manufactured thing.” He emphasized that Republicans are actively working on the matter through a GOP-led House Oversight Committee investigation.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., arrives to talk to reporters about the government shutdown on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Democrats have amplified their calls for Grijalva to be sworn in, with some taking to the House floor and others marching to Johnson’s office demanding action. Additionally, the delay has frustrated those eager for a vote on the Epstein files. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has even threatened legal action if Grijalva is not seated promptly.
Grijalva, daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva, reflects on her father’s legacy and the expectations set for her. “I think he would just be kinda laughing,” she muses, “scratching his head at like, my kid is, you know, making a splash.”
Colorado Public Radio’s Caitlyn Kim contributed to this report
