It has been two weeks since Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva gained a particular election for Arizona’s seventh Congressional District, defeating her Republican opponent in a landslide that dwarfed the 22-point margin Democrats gained the seat by in 2024.
However Speaker Mike Johnson nonetheless hasn’t sworn Grijalva into the seat, which grew to become vacant in March when her father died of problems from most cancers.
And GOP lawmakers at the moment are admitting Johnson is slow-walking Grijalva’s swearing in due to the Epstein information.
As soon as she’s sworn in, Grijalva would be the remaining signature on the petition that might power Johnson to carry a vote on a bipartisan invoice that might compel the Trump administration to launch the information it possesses on convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. If the invoice got here up for a vote earlier than the total Home, it will possible move—embarrassing Johnson’s Pricey Chief Donald Trump, who needs to maintain the information secret possible as a result of his title has been confirmed to be littered all through the paperwork.
Massie was responding to an interview Johnson gave to MSNBC, wherein Johnson claimed that he was “for maximum disclosure” however that the federal government doesn’t wish to launch the information to “protect the innocent victims” who Epstein abused.
After all, the laws that might power the Epstein information to be launched particularly says that info that might establish victims can be redacted—so Johnson’s declare is a pink herring.
Grijalva, for her half, has been demanding that Johnson swear her in so she will be able to get to work for her constituents—who’ve been with out congressional illustration since her father died on March 13.
Johnson, for his half, claims he cannot swear Grijalva in as a result of Congress is not in session.
However that, too, is an absurd lie, as again in April Johnson swore in two GOP lawmakers the day after they gained particular elections in Florida— despite the fact that Congress was in recess on the time.
Rep. Thomas Massie
Much more absurd is the truth that the Home is not in session proper now, provided that the federal government is shut down and solely Congress has the facility to move funding laws that might reopen it.
In truth, Johnson introduced on Thursday that Congress will probably be out on recess till Oct. 13.
Massie is hammering Johnson for not calling Congress into session.
However in the end, irrespective of how a lot Johnson tries to delay Grijalva’s swearing in, the actual fact is that she will probably be seated within the coming days. After which Johnson can have a multitude on his arms as he tries to cease the Epstein information laws from passing.
Why not rip off the Band-Help now, Mister Speaker?
