Did House Republicans stall Adelita Grijalva’s swearing-in to delay release of Epstein files?

WASHINGTON – Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva arrived at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday expecting to be sworn in as the newest member of Congress. Instead – a week after winning a special election to succeed her late father – she was left waiting.

The Tucson Democrat stood on the House floor during a pro forma session that lasted less than three minutes, enough time for an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Fellow Democrats chanted “Swear her in!”

But the Republican presiding over the House gaveled the session to an abrupt end. The oath of office would have to wait. Until when remains unclear.

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“It’s frustrating,” Grijalva said afterward. “I’m essentially a tourist with a couple of friends in Congress that have a conference room that they’ll lend me.”

Grijalva’s father, Raúl Grijalva, died in March during his 12th term in Congress. His daughter, former chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, won the special election last week by a landslide to serve out his term.

House Republicans have not explained the delay. But Democrats suspect it has something to do with the push to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, died in jail in 2019 awaiting federal trial for trafficking young women and girls for sex. His assistant, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20-year term for her role in his abuse of minors.

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Conservatives have demanded release of the full investigative files. President Donald Trump, a former friend of Epstein, has criticized the push for disclosure, calling it a Democratic “hoax” and encouraging supporters to move on.

Speaker Mike Johnson has resisted holding a vote on release of the remaining files.

A petition to force such a vote is one signature short, and Grijalva intends to provide that signature.

Johnson aides and the office of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise did not respond to repeated inquiries about the timing of Grijalva’s swearing-in.

Until Johnson agrees to administer the oath of office, Grijalva remains in a limbo of sorts – unable to move into her father’s old office, hire staff, activate an official web page or sign the Epstein petition.

The next scheduled House session is Friday, also pro forma. The first government shutdown in six years started 12 hours after Grivalja’s brief stop on the House floor.

“Every day that Speaker Johnson delays is another day Southern Arizonans are left without a voice in Congress and without essential in-district services,” Grijalva said in a statement hours after the floor snub. “With federal budget negotiations happening now, our community deserves a seat at the table – not partisan obstruction.”

The Epstein petition effort is led by a Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

Every Democrat has signed, along with Massie and three other Republicans.

Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Phoenix, called the delay “unacceptable,” accusing the speaker of breaking precedent.

Earlier this year, Johnson personally swore in two Florida Republicans within 24 hours of their victories in special elections. Those were also done at brief pro forma sessions, during which the chamber takes no votes and conducts little business.

Other Arizona Democrats have also called on Johnson to allow Grijalva to take her seat immediately.

Sen. Mark Kelly said there is “no reason to delay.” Sen. Ruben Gallego echoed that message.

“Voters in Southern Arizona spoke loudly and clearly when they elected Adelita Grijalva to represent them in Congress. They deserve to have their voices heard here in Washington without delay,” Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Phoenix wrote in a letter to the speaker.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.