Incoming Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) mentioned that there was no communication between her and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who was in charge of swearing her into Congress.
“I feel like a tourist in Washington, D.C.” Grijalva told CNN’s Erin Burnett on Wednesday during some unexpected delays in filling the Congressional seat.
She recalled that Johnson informed her about two other congressmen who had previously organized a swearing-in ceremony with friends and family involved.
“Where do I register?” she asked.
“There hasn’t been any direct communication between the chairman and me, just some casual remarks to reporters. So the statement from the president’s office really puts me in this limbo where many in the Democratic caucus have welcomed me as a member, but I can’t officially take part yet,” she said.
Last month, Democrats had urged Johnson and House Republican leaders to support a bipartisan bill, which Grijalva is expected to push forward regarding the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
However, Johnson declined to proceed, thus delaying efforts to unveil files connected to the Epstein case. He has canceled previously scheduled votes due to the government shutdown and did not take the oath of office for the Arizona Democratic Party during a brief “provisional” session last month. He mentioned he would swear Grijalva in once the House resumed regular sessions.
Grijalva held a press conference with the Arizona Democratic delegation on Wednesday. When discussing the swearing-in delay, she noted, “Everything is… [Jeffrey] Epstein files.”
“None of us anticipated this,” Grijalva reflected. “I remember the night of the election, which turned into a victory party. Someone approached me and said, ‘You know he’s not going to swear you in because of that Epstein file, right?’ I thought, ‘That sounds a bit conspiratorial.’ But now, on the 22nd day of this seemingly endless wait, he has had multiple chances to swear me in.”
“So if this isn’t about the Epstein file, please just swear me in,” she concluded.
Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays (D) announced on Tuesday that he contacted Johnson’s office, requesting that Grijalva be sworn in or that legal accountability be established.
“We are considering all options, including litigation, to ensure Adelita can get to work as Arizona’s newest lawmaker,” Mays stated.
Grijalva won a special election on September 23, succeeding her father, former Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who passed away on March 13.
