Adelita Grijalva Sworn in, Expected to Push for Epstein Files Release

Adelita Grijalva, the newly elected Democratic representative for southern Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, will be sworn in on November 1, 2023, by House Speaker Mike Johnson. Grijalva’s swearing-in comes more than seven weeks after she won a special election to succeed her late father, former Rep. Raul Grijalva, who passed away in March.

Grijalva is poised to become the final signatory on a discharge petition that aims to compel a vote for the release of government files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. A coalition of lawmakers, including Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), has gathered 217 signatures in support of this petition. Once the threshold of 218 signatures is reached, Speaker Johnson would be required to bring a resolution to the floor directing the Justice Department to release the unclassified records.

If Grijalva signs the petition on Wednesday, it could set the stage for a vote in early December. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the ranking member of the House Rules Committee, indicated that the timing could work in favor of a vote, stating, “If she signs it tomorrow, it should ripe[n] in early December.”

The delay in Grijalva’s swearing-in has attracted attention and criticism from her fellow Democrats. They allege that Speaker Johnson has intentionally postponed her oath to sidestep a potential vote on releasing the Epstein files. Johnson has denied these claims, asserting that the timing of the ceremony has no connection to the discharge petition.

Last month, Johnson explained that he was adhering to a precedent set by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which stipulates that oaths for special election winners are not administered when the House is out of session. He emphasized, “I will administer the oath to her on the first day we come back [to] legislative session.”

Grijalva expressed her frustration over the situation in a video posted on X, stating, “I’m really upset that one of the first votes that I will take is on a bill that does nothing for affordable healthcare or the American people.” She underscored the importance of ensuring that no future member-elect faces similar delays, criticizing the political maneuvering that has kept her waiting.

The swearing-in ceremony marks a significant moment not only for Grijalva but also for her constituents, who have been without representation since her father’s passing. With her entry into Congress, she aims to advocate for the voices of the people, emphasizing that “this can never happen again to another member-elect.”