House Speaker Johnson Receives Fact-Check Over Refusal to Swear In Representative

In a growing political dispute that highlights congressional tensions, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faces mounting criticism over his refusal to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who won a special election in Arizona more than three weeks ago.

During a CNN interview with Jake Tapper on Thursday, Johnson defended his position, stating, “I am happy and anxious to administer the oath to Rep. Grijalva, and we will do that as soon as we return to legislative session.” He then shifted blame to Senate Democrats, adding, “We need Chuck Schumer and the Democrats in the Senate to do that.”

The standoff stems from Johnson’s decision to adjourn the House last month after passing a funding bill that has since stalled in the Senate, contributing to a partial federal government shutdown. Senate Democrats are seeking concessions on health care initiatives, particularly the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies scheduled to expire by year’s end.

Johnson maintains he won’t reconvene the House until Senate Democrats end their resistance to the funding bill, and consequently, won’t swear in Grijalva until the House formally returns to session.

What makes this situation particularly controversial is that the House has been holding brief “pro forma” sessions, during which Johnson has previously sworn in other new members multiple times this year. This inconsistency has raised questions about the speaker’s motives for treating Grijalva differently.

When pressed on the delay, Johnson claimed he was following precedent established by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who once delayed swearing in a new member for more than three weeks in 2021. However, he omitted that Pelosi’s delay was largely attributable to COVID-19 protocols in effect at that time—a significantly different circumstance.

In a particularly contentious moment during the interview, Johnson criticized Grijalva for not working. “She should be working for her constituents,” he told Tapper. “She should be in her office. She should be working, or in the district for her constituents.”

This criticism comes despite Grijalva’s public statements about the limitations she faces. Earlier that day, she shared a video of her new congressional office, revealing that much of her equipment, including computers, remains non-functional because she hasn’t been sworn in and therefore lacks proper access to congressional resources.

Political observers suggest there may be strategic calculations behind Johnson’s delay. Once sworn in, Grijalva would provide the final vote needed to pass a discharge petition that would force the Justice Department to release files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Epstein files have become a politically charged issue. During last year’s campaign, President Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly promised to release these documents. However, since taking office, Trump—who previously had close ties to Epstein—has dismissed the matter as a “Democrat hoax.”

The situation underscores the increasingly partisan nature of procedural matters in Congress and raises questions about the use of administrative powers for political advantage. Grijalva’s district remains without full representation while this standoff continues, highlighting how internal congressional disputes can directly impact constituent services.

As the partial government shutdown continues and the swearing-in delay extends, pressure mounts on Johnson to justify his position. Critics argue that regardless of legislative disputes between chambers, elected representatives deserve to be seated promptly to fulfill their constitutional duties and serve their constituents effectively.

The controversy adds another layer of complexity to an already tense political environment in Washington as lawmakers grapple with funding issues, health care policy, and the lingering shadow of politically sensitive investigations.