Overview

• On day eight of the shutdown, Johnson told Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego he will seat Grijalva once the government reopens and the House resumes session.
• Democrats accuse Johnson of stalling to stop Grijalva from becoming the 218th signer on a bipartisan discharge petition to force a House vote on Epstein-related records; Johnson called the claim "totally absurd."
• Until sworn in, Grijalva cannot sign the petition, vote, occupy an office, hire staff, or provide constituent services to Arizona's 7th District.
• Democrats cite Johnson's swearing-in of two Florida Republicans during pro forma sessions earlier this year as precedent; Johnson said those were exceptions because families were present.
• Johnson argued a House Oversight inquiry makes a floor vote unnecessary and dismissed the senators' hallway press event as a "publicity stunt."