Overview
- Adelita Grijalva won a Sept. 23 special election to succeed her late father, yet she remains unsworn and cannot staff offices or provide full constituent services.
- Speaker Mike Johnson says she will take the oath when the House returns to regular session, attributing the delay to the shutdown and recess schedule.
- Democrats highlight an April precedent when Johnson swore in two Republicans during a pro forma session, arguing the current stance is inconsistent.
- Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego confronted Johnson at the Capitol, and House Democrats’ attempts during pro forma sessions have been ignored by presiding Republicans.
- Rep. Thomas Massie’s discharge petition to force a vote on releasing federal Jeffrey Epstein files is one signature short; Grijalva vows to sign once seated, a link Johnson publicly denies as the reason for the delay.