The Democrat accused Johnson of playing “political games” by delaying the swearing-in ceremony.
Jacob Wendler
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes threatened legal action against House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday for failing to seat Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva.
In a letter to Johnson, Mayes accused the House GOP leader of violating the Constitution by unnecessarily delaying the Democrat’s swearing-in ceremony.
“Arizona’s right to a full delegation, and the right of the residents of CD 7 to representation from the person they recently voted for, are not up for debate and may not be delayed or used as leverage in negotiations about unrelated legislation,” Mayes, who is also a Democrat, wrote in the letter.
Grivalja won a special election in Arizona’s deep-blue 7th Congressional District to replace her late father, former Rep. Raúl Grijalva, last month. Johnson has maintained Grijalva would be sworn in when the House is back in session — once Congress reaches an agreement to reopen the government — despite at one point telling reporters she would be sworn in “as soon as she wants.”
In the letter, Mayes said that amounted to “trying to use Arizona’s constitutional right to representation in the House as a bargaining chip.”
Democrats have accused Johnson and Republicans of stalling to prevent Grijalva from being the final signatory needed on an effort to force a vote on legislation related to releasing files about the investigation into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mayes said her office was keeping “every option open to us, including litigation,” to hold Johnson accountable and ensure Grijalva was sworn in promptly.
In response, Johnson said: “As I have said repeatedly, the House will follow customary practice by swearing in Rep-elect Grijalva when the House is in legislative session.”