Overview

• Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters the delay has nothing to do with the Epstein petition and said he will schedule Adelita Grijalva’s oath when the House returns, later adding it would be "as soon as she wants."
• A House GOP leadership aide said she will be sworn in once the chamber is back in legislative session, tying the timing to ending the shutdown, despite earlier pro forma swearing-ins this year.
• Grijalva won the Sept. 23 special election and remains unsworn, leaving Arizona’s 7th District without a functioning congressional office or constituent services after her late father’s office closed.
• The discharge petition to compel release of Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein has 217 signatures; Grijalva has pledged to sign and would supply the decisive 218th signature.
• Democrats cite precedent of two Republicans and one Democrat sworn in during pro forma sessions and note GOP leaders have canceled voting days; an attempt to secure her swearing-in during a pro forma session was gaveled down.