House Speaker Johnson Under Fire for Delaying Congressional Swearing-In

Critics are lambasting House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over his controversial handling of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who remains unable to officially assume her congressional duties more than three weeks after winning a special election in Arizona.

During a CNN interview with Jake Tapper on Thursday, Johnson defended his decision not to swear in Grijalva, shifting blame to Senate Democrats. “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,” Johnson told Tapper. “We need Chuck Schumer and the Democrats in the Senate to do that.”

The political 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 government shutdown. Senate Democrats are seeking concessions on health care issues, particularly the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at year’s end.

Johnson insists he won’t reconvene the House until Senate Democrats end their resistance on the funding measure—and by extension, won’t swear in Grijalva until a full legislative session resumes. This stance has drawn sharp criticism, particularly since the House has been holding brief “pro forma” sessions, which Johnson has previously used to swear in other new members this year.

The Speaker attempted to justify his position by claiming he was following precedent set by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who once delayed swearing in a new member for over three weeks in 2021. However, Johnson failed to mention that Pelosi’s delay was largely due to COVID-related protocols in place at that time—a significantly different circumstance.

In a remarkable twist, Johnson then criticized Grijalva herself for not fulfilling duties she cannot legally perform. “She should be working for her constituents,” Johnson told Tapper. “She should be in her office. She should be working, or in the district for her constituents.”

Grijalva responded earlier that day by sharing a video of her new congressional office, revealing that much of the equipment, including computers, remains non-functional because her lack of official status prevents her from accessing necessary resources and systems.

Political observers point to another potential motivation behind Johnson’s delay tactics. Once sworn in, Grijalva would provide the final signature needed on a discharge petition that could force a vote compelling the Justice Department to release documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Epstein files have become a politically charged issue. During last year’s campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly promised to release these documents. However, now in office, Trump—who once maintained a friendship with Epstein—has dismissed the matter as a “Democrat hoax.”

Johnson’s handling of the situation has sparked intense criticism on social media platforms, where many have accused the Speaker of abusing his authority for partisan advantage and denying constituents in Arizona’s 7th congressional district proper representation.

The controversy highlights growing tensions in a divided Congress, where procedural maneuvers increasingly impact governance. For residents of Grijalva’s district, the standoff means a continued lack of full representation in Washington as critical funding and policy issues remain unresolved.

As the stalemate continues, pressure mounts on Johnson to either swear in Grijalva during a pro forma session—as he has done for other members—or provide a more substantive justification for the unprecedented delay beyond partisan considerations.