Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) claims that House Speaker Mike Johnson is intentionally delaying the swearing-in of Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva because her signature is the final one needed on a discharge petition that would force a vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein’s files.
Grijalva, who won a special election over a month ago, remains unseated despite repeated calls for her to be sworn in, sparking outcry from survivors of abuse and members of Congress who say the delay undermines democracy and blocks transparency efforts.
Grijalva won the September 23 special election to represent Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, succeeding her late father, Raul Grijalva. The election results were certified October 14, yet she has waited more than 40 days—the longest delay in recent history for a member-elect’s swearing-in. Normally, incoming representatives can be sworn in during brief “pro forma” sessions of the House, but Speaker Johnson insists he will wait until the full House reconvenes after the ongoing government shutdown.
This delay has left southern Arizona without full representation in the House, denying roughly 812,000 constituents access to their elected voice and resources. Grijalva and her legal allies, including Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, have filed a federal lawsuit demanding Johnson swear her in immediately. Johnson denies any political motive, citing the shutdown as the reason for the postponement, and has pointed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s precedent of waiting for regular sessions to swear in members. However, critics highlight that Johnson previously swore in Republican members during pro forma sessions earlier this year, a courtesy not extended to Grijalva.
The controversy centers on Massie’s discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing Justice Department files concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Massie has gathered 217 signatures—one short of the 218 needed—with Grijalva expected to provide the critical final signature. Her absence has effectively stalled the petition, frustrating survivors of abuse and advocacy organizations urging full transparency and accountability.
Survivors have publicly deplored the delay, saying it “appears to be a deliberate attempt” to block Grijalva’s participation in the petition process. Organizations like World Without Exploitation stress that this is a deeply personal issue beyond politics, calling on lawmakers to set partisan differences aside and release all Epstein and Maxwell files. Massie echoed these frustrations, encouraging Speaker Johnson to “follow applicable laws and House precedent” and criticizing the Speaker’s control of the House calendar for causing the delay.
Johnson maintains that releasing more files is already underway through the GOP-led House Oversight Committee, which has disclosed over 40,000 pages so far. He also urges Democrats to vote to end the shutdown, framing the swearing-in delay as a procedural matter unrelated to Epstein. Yet, this explanation has done little to quell pressure from Democrats, survivors, and legal authorities who see the situation as an unprecedented use of power to suppress congressional representation and obstruct justice.
Grijalva herself has remained vocal and active despite the delay, traveling within her district to meet constituents and advocating for transparency. She has expressed deep concern about the dangerous precedent being set where a Speaker can unilaterally withhold swearing in a duly elected member, effectively silencing hundreds of thousands of voters. The ongoing dispute underscores larger tensions about government shutdown impacts, House leadership authority, and the political will to confront the Epstein scandal fully.
