Overview

• Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva remains unsworn after her Sept. 23 special election win, leaving Arizona’s 7th District without a voting member.
• Speaker Mike Johnson publicly denied that the delay relates to the Epstein files effort and said she would be sworn in when members return.
• A House leadership aide later said seating would occur only once the chamber is back in legislative session, linking it to ending the shutdown.
• Democrats cite April swearing-ins of two Republicans during brief pro forma sessions as precedent and press for the same treatment now.
• Grijalva has pledged to become the 218th signer on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing DOJ Epstein materials, which would start a seven-legislative-day clock to seek a floor vote.