By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-delay-swearing-in-rep-grijalva-has-nothing-to-do-with-epstein-petition-johnson-says Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Delay swearing in Rep. Grijalva ‘has nothing to do’ with Epstein petition, Johnson says Politics Oct 7, 2025 6:02 PM EDT House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he’ll schedule the swearing in of the new Arizona Democratic House member “as soon as she wants.” Watch the clip in the video player above. Adelita Grijalva won a special election for a House seat on Sept. 24, but has been unable to actually represent her district in Congress until the speaker officially swears her into office. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has so far refused to accommodate her request to officially take office while the House is not conducting legislative business during the government shutdown. READ MORE: Speaker Johnson has yet to swear in newly elected Arizona lawmaker Adelita Grijalva Johnson did not elaborate on what he meant Tuesday by saying he would swear her into office as soon as she wants. However, Grijalva could be sworn in during one of the House’s pro-forma sessions. The next one is Wednesday. Once she officially takes office, Grijalva has said she will join a legislative maneuver to force a vote in the House on a bill that would require the Department of Justice to release the case files on the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he’ll schedule the swearing in of the new Arizona Democratic House member “as soon as she wants.” Watch the clip in the video player above. Adelita Grijalva won a special election for a House seat on Sept. 24, but has been unable to actually represent her district in Congress until the speaker officially swears her into office. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has so far refused to accommodate her request to officially take office while the House is not conducting legislative business during the government shutdown. READ MORE: Speaker Johnson has yet to swear in newly elected Arizona lawmaker Adelita Grijalva Johnson did not elaborate on what he meant Tuesday by saying he would swear her into office as soon as she wants. However, Grijalva could be sworn in during one of the House’s pro-forma sessions. The next one is Wednesday. Once she officially takes office, Grijalva has said she will join a legislative maneuver to force a vote in the House on a bill that would require the Department of Justice to release the case files on the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now