Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) claims that House Speaker Mike Johnson is intentionally delaying the swearing-in of Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva because her signature is the final one needed on a discharge petition that would force a vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein’s files.
Despite winning a special election more than a month ago, Grijalva remains unsworn in, igniting discontent among abuse survivors and Congress members. They argue that this delay erodes democratic principles and hinders transparency efforts.
Grijalva secured victory in the special election on September 23 for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, succeeding her late father, Raul Grijalva. Despite the election results being certified on October 14, she has awaited over 40 days to be sworn in—a delay unprecedented in recent history. Typically, new representatives can take their oath during brief “pro forma” House sessions, but Speaker Johnson has decided to postpone until the full House reconvenes post-government shutdown.
This postponement leaves southern Arizona without full House representation, depriving around 812,000 constituents of their elected official’s advocacy and services. Grijalva, alongside Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, has initiated a federal lawsuit demanding her immediate swearing-in. Speaker Johnson, defending his stance, attributes the delay to the shutdown rather than political reasons, citing a precedent by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi regarding regular session swearings-in. Critics, however, point out Johnson’s earlier swearing-in of Republican members during pro forma sessions, a privilege not extended to Grijalva.
The issue also ties into a controversy involving Massie’s discharge petition. This petition aims to compel a House vote for releasing Justice Department documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who were implicated in sex trafficking charges. Epstein died in jail in 2019. Massie has amassed 217 signatures, just one short of the required 218, with Grijalva’s signature anticipated as the decisive one. Her unavailability has stalled the petition, frustrating abuse survivors and advocacy groups demanding transparency and accountability.
Survivors have openly criticized the delay, suggesting it may be an intentional effort to hinder Grijalva’s involvement in the petition process. Groups like World Without Exploitation emphasize the issue’s personal significance, urging lawmakers to transcend partisan divides and release all Epstein and Maxwell records. Massie echoed these sentiments, urging Speaker Johnson to adhere to legal and House precedents and critiquing his management of the House schedule as contributing to the delay.
Johnson maintains that releasing more files is already underway through the GOP-led House Oversight Committee, which has disclosed over 40,000 pages so far. He also urges Democrats to vote to end the shutdown, framing the swearing-in delay as a procedural matter unrelated to Epstein. Yet, this explanation has done little to quell pressure from Democrats, survivors, and legal authorities who see the situation as an unprecedented use of power to suppress congressional representation and obstruct justice.
Grijalva herself has remained vocal and active despite the delay, traveling within her district to meet constituents and advocating for transparency. She has expressed deep concern about the dangerous precedent being set where a Speaker can unilaterally withhold swearing in a duly elected member, effectively silencing hundreds of thousands of voters. The ongoing dispute underscores larger tensions about government shutdown impacts, House leadership authority, and the political will to confront the Epstein scandal fully.
