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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is accusing Republicans of blocking Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) from taking office to prevent a vote on legislation to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a letter sent on Thursday (October 16), Jeffries demanded Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) swear in Grijalva during Friday’s (October 17) pro forma session, saying that Republicans have denied Arizona’s 7th District its rightful representation for over three weeks, per The Hill.
“Her election has been officially certified by the state of Arizona. In fact, it was never in question,” Jeffries wrote. “The continued refusal to seat Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva for partisan advantage undermines the integrity of this institution.”
Grijalva won a special election on September 23 to replace her late father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died in March. However, Johnson thus far declined to swear her in, despite earlier saying he would do so “whenever” she was ready.
Johnson claims Grijalva deserves to be sworn in with “pomp and circumstance” during a full House session. However, critics argue Johnson is using the government shutdown to delay seating her as the House hasn’t convened since the October 1 budget impasse began.
Grijalva, who's been in Washington waiting to be sworn in, said she’s less concerned with ceremony than getting to work. Democrats have also pointed out that Johnson used pro forma sessions in April to swear in two newly elected Republicans from Florida almost immediately.
“The decision to seat right-wing Republicans with record speed, while denying a newly elected Democrat the opportunity to serve, is an unacceptable disgrace,” Jeffries wrote.
Once seated, Grijalva would become the 218th signatory on a discharge petition to force a vote on a bill to release Epstein-related documents. The measure is opposed by Johnson, who claims the bill could expose victims' identities.
As of Thursday, the Speaker’s office had not responded to Jeffries’ request.
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