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.

Despite her victory in a special election more than a month ago, Grijalva has yet to take her seat in Congress, igniting frustration from abuse survivors and lawmakers who argue that the delay is an affront to democracy and obstructs efforts for transparency.

Grijalva, who triumphed in the September 23 election to represent Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, was set to follow in the footsteps of her late father, Raul Grijalva. Although the election results were certified on October 14, she finds herself in an unprecedented wait of over 40 days—an unusually prolonged period for a member-elect to be sworn in. Typically, such swearing-ins occur during brief “pro forma” sessions of the House, but Speaker Johnson has opted to postpone until the entire House reconvenes following the government shutdown.​

This holdup leaves southern Arizona without full representation, depriving approximately 812,000 constituents of their elected voice and essential resources. In response, Grijalva, with the backing of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, has filed a federal lawsuit to compel Johnson to expedite the swearing-in. Johnson, however, refutes any political intentions behind the delay, attributing it solely to the shutdown, and referencing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s precedent of waiting for regular sessions. Yet, critics are quick to point out that Johnson previously allowed Republican members to be sworn in during pro forma sessions earlier this year, a courtesy not extended to Grijalva.​

The heart of the issue lies with Massie’s discharge petition aimed at compelling a House vote to release Justice Department files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. Massie’s petition stands at 217 signatures—just one shy of the necessary 218—with Grijalva anticipated to deliver the crucial final signature. Her absence has brought the petition to an impasse, much to the dismay of abuse survivors and advocacy groups pressing for full transparency and accountability.​

Survivors have publicly decried the delay, suggesting it “appears to be a deliberate attempt” to prevent Grijalva’s involvement in the petition. Organizations such as World Without Exploitation emphasize the issue’s personal significance beyond political boundaries, urging lawmakers to transcend partisan divides and release all pertinent Epstein and Maxwell documents. Massie echoed these sentiments, urging Speaker Johnson to “adhere to applicable laws and House precedents,” while lamenting that the Speaker’s management of the House schedule has been the root cause of 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.​​

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