Representative-Elect Adelita Grijalva and lawmakers hold press conference
WASHINGTON (KYMA, NBC) - Representative-Elect Adelita Grijalva and lawmakers held a press conference in Washington, D.C. Wednesday morning.
Grijalva, along with the Arizona Congressional Delegation and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, called on House Speaker Mike Johnson to swear-in Grijalva immediately.
Last month, Grijalva won the Special General Election, defeating Republican candidate Daniel Butierez, but has yet to be sworn in.
"Every day that I am not sworn in is another day that my constituents are blocked from critical constituent services and excluded from debates happening right now that affect their lives. Southern Arizona cannot afford to be sidelined," Grijalva expressed.
The House has been out of session since September 19 when it passed a stopgap funding measure. Grijalva was elected on September 23.
During the press conference, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) implied Speaker Johnson was delaying Grijalva's swearing in to keep files related to Jeffrey Epstein under wraps.
"Every reason that has ever, he has ever come up with has changed from day one, day two, day three. The only thing that's been consistent the whole time is that Speaker Johnson is trying to cover up for pedophiles. Is that clear enough? Speaker Johnson is covering up for pedophiles, and in the process Arizona does not have a congresswoman."
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.)
Grijalva will likely be the final signature needed to force a floor vote on a bill directing the Justice Department to release all files related to Epstein.
Johnson has blamed the government shutdown for the delay saying he plans on swearing in Grijalva as soon as the government reopens.
On Tuesday, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes certified the results of the Special General Election.
Later in the day, Grijalva and a group of House Democrats marched to Johnson's office to demand she be sworn in, but he was not in his office.
She is expected to fill the seat left vacant by her father, the late Congressman Raul Grijalva.
