Overview
- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a federal suit in Washington seeking a court order declaring Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva a member and allowing an authorized official other than the speaker to administer the oath.
- Speaker Mike Johnson says he will seat Grijalva when the House returns to legislative session during the ongoing shutdown, denies partisan motives, and dismisses the case as a publicity stunt.
- Democrats allege the delay is to prevent Grijalva from becoming the 218th signer on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein; Johnson disputes that and points to ongoing committee inquiries.
- Critics cite Johnson’s April pro forma swearing-in of two Florida Republicans as inconsistent with his current stance, while Johnson references a past instance he calls the Pelosi precedent of waiting for regular session.
- Grijalva remains unable to access key office systems or a full budget, leaving roughly 800,000 residents of Arizona’s 7th District without full services, and her seating would narrow the House split to 219–214 with two vacancies.