We have major news this evening. Adelita Grijalva’s victory has been certified by the Arizona board of elections, and now, a political storm is brewing on Capitol Hill as tensions rise over her delayed swearing in. Grijalva’s absence is now beginning to have significant implications not only for her constituents in Arizona’s 7th District but also for a high stakes vote concerning the long awaited Epstein files.
At a time when it feels like this issue has faded from the national conversation, it remains at the very forefront of my mind every single day. Over the past several months, I’ve spoken directly with survivors of Epstein’s horrific crimes—people whose lives were shattered and whose pain still echoes through every word they speak. Their courage drives me. I am fully committed to ensuring they receive the justice and closure they have been denied for far too long.
That means refusing to let this story be buried, and continuing to demand the full release of the Epstein files, no matter how uncomfortable it makes those in power. I will not stop until the truth is out. If you believe in this fight, subscribe to support this work and help make accountability a reality.
Grijalva, daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D–Ariz.), decisively won a special election on September 23 to fill her father’s seat. Her victory was certified today, making it official. Yet despite having all the legal credentials in hand, Grijalva has not been sworn into office, a delay that has sparked outrage among Democrats and state officials in Arizona. This is an image of her certificate of election obtained by Jamie Dupree, a Congressional reporter:
Following her certification, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) issued a stern warning to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R–La.), threatening legal action if the Speaker continues to block Grijalva’s swearing in. “It’s way past time for Mike Johnson to stop the political games and seat Adelita without delay,” Mayes declared in a fiery statement. “We are keeping every option open to us, including litigation, to hold him accountable and make sure that Adelita is able to begin her work as Arizona’s newest member of Congress.”
Mayes emphasized that the process is now purely procedural. “Ms. Grijalva no longer needs a House resolution to be sworn into office. With the House in possession of the certificate of election, it is now a simple ministerial duty to administer the oath of office.”
Grijalva also issued the following statement moments ago:
Speaker Johnson has defended the delay, arguing that the timing of Grijalva’s swearing in coincides with ongoing efforts to pressure Senate Democrats into accepting a House passed stopgap spending bill to fund the government through November 21. To that end, Johnson has canceled several voting sessions, keeping the House in recess for weeks amid the partial government shutdown.
Democrats, however, note that Johnson previously swore in two Republican members from Florida during a pro forma session in April, shortly after their special elections. They argue this sets a clear precedent for Grijalva’s situation. Johnson insists the circumstances were different, explaining that those swearing ins were scheduled before the cancellation of votes, whereas Grijalva’s election occurred after votes for late September had already been called off.
The controversy intensified when Chad Pergram, Fox News’ senior congressional correspondent, pressed Johnson during a briefing today about whether the Speaker’s delay was politically motivated, specifically tied to the pending Epstein files disclosure vote. “You said last week that you would swear in Adelita Grijalva whenever she wants. She’s written a letter to your office. You’ve not sworn her in,” Pergram asked. “Doesn’t your resistance to not swear her in add fuel to the fire that this is about the Epstein files?”
Johnson dismissed the accusation, responding, “No. Let’s talk about Grijalva and Epstein. Okay, once more for everybody. Everybody in Congress, I think, is for maximum transparency of the Epstein files. That is underway right now. Let me point out before I go further: all of the files were in the possession of the Biden Harris Department of Justice for four years. Every single thing that we’re talking about right now was in their sole possession.”
His answer, however, only deepened suspicions among Democrats and transparency advocates who view the delay as a calculated move to block progress on the Epstein records vote.
The impact of this standoff goes beyond Washington politics. For the residents of Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, the ongoing delay means they remain without representation during a government shutdown, leaving vital constituent services on hold and local concerns unheard at the federal level.
Equally consequential is the legislative math surrounding the Epstein files discharge petition, a procedural tool that could compel a House vote to release unredacted documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s network and associates. Grijalva’s signature would mark the 218th, a majority needed to force the issue onto the floor.
Republicans may soon face an even greater challenge. A special election in Texas’ 18th Congressional District, set to replace the late Rep. Sylvester Turner, is expected to add another Democrat to the House. If the Democratic candidate wins, that would raise the number of signatures on the petition to 219, further pressuring GOP leadership to act.
As the impasse continues, Democrats accuse Johnson of using procedural tactics to silence an incoming member and delay public accountability on one of the most sensitive scandals in recent history. Republicans, meanwhile, insist their actions are rooted in procedure and timing, not political gamesmanship.
For now, Arizona’s 7th District waits. Grijalva’s supporters say they won’t rest until she takes her rightful place in Congress, while the broader fight over transparency and power continues to unfold in the halls of Capitol Hill.
