Rep.-Elect Grijalva Voices Concerns Over Government Shutdown Impact: 'I'm in Limbo

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A Democratic representative-elect from Arizona finds herself in a state of uncertainty due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Adelita Grijalva expressed her frustrations during an appearance on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports,” saying, “The issue is that I don’t have a budget. I am without the authority, privileges, or responsibilities that come with being a sworn-in member of Congress.”

Grijalva secured her position in a special election two months ago to succeed her late father, the long-serving U.S. Representative Raúl Grijalva. Despite her victory, she remains unable to perform her duties and represent the 800,000 constituents in her district, as she has yet to be officially sworn in by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Speaker Johnson informed Grijalva that the process could not proceed until the current impasse is resolved. Adding to the complexity is pressure from Johnson’s fellow Republicans, who argue that he should finalize the swearing-in process for Grijalva.

“If you call the CD7 number right now, it’s my dad’s voice on the voicemail,” Grijalva added. “So we don’t have the capacity to do anything.”

“It’s not like because he was my dad, someone just hands me over the keys. It’s kind of like if your father was a pilot, you don’t automatically get all of the information just poured into your head because of that.”

Is Mike Johnson holding up the swearing-in because of the Epstein files?

As a sworn-in member of Congress, Grijalva would become the 218th vote to discharge the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Democratic members of the House of Representatives have accused Johnson and other Republican lawmakers of delaying a vote on releasing the files. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts suggested Johnson is purposely stalling votes and Grijalva’s swearing-in.

Grijalva told ‘s Vargas she had heard from someone about that specific theory.

“I didn’t think that initially,” acknowledged Grijalva. “It’s very conspiracy theory. Someone came up to me literally on election night and said, ‘He’s not going to swear you in because of those files.’”

“And I thought, ‘No, that can’t be it.’ And here we are, 41 days today that I have been waiting to be sworn in.”

Adelita Grijalva doesn’t foresee situation going to courts

Grijalva made it clear that she doesn’t anticipate going to a judge to get the order to be sworn in by Johnson.

“I think that’s a dangerous precedent to set,” she said. “We didn’t want to be in this position. I reached out to Johnson’s office two times, left voicemails, and went to his office.”

Grijalva added her team went with a group of Democratic women to the caucus, only to find out Johnson wasn’t there. The Arizona attorney general also sent a demand letter on her behalf that wasn’t responded to.