Democrats turn up heat on Johnson over Epstein files vote delay
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House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and other leaders speak at a press conference in the U.S. Capitol on July 23. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
House Democratic leadership is growing increasingly vocal in accusing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) of refusing to swear in their newest member in order to delay a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Why it matters: Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) would be the 218th signature on a discharge petition that would force a vote on the matter. But she has to be sworn in first.
- Grijalva was elected in a landslide last Tuesday in the race to succeed her father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), in Congress.
- She has accused Johnson of dragging his feet on her swearing in, saying in a TV interview last week, "Apparently the rules have now changed in two weeks, and we're being asked for official results."
- "Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm number 218," Grijalva said, referencing the discharge petition.
Driving the news: House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) escalated the matter on Monday with a letter to Johnson railing against his "reckless" cancellation of votes on Monday and Tuesday.
- The cancelled votes come as government is set to shut down Wednesday unless Congress passes a short-term spending measure. Senate Democrats are refusing to support a House-passed measure.
- But Clark noted that the delay in bringing back the House has also stalled Grijalva's swearing in, which, she wrote, "calls into question if the motive behind the delay is to further avoid the release of the Epstein files."
The other side: "As is standard practice, with the House now having received the appropriate paperwork from the state, the Speaker's Office intends to schedule a swearing in for the Representative-elect when the House returns to session," a Johnson spokesperson said in a statement to Axios.
Between the lines: At issue is whether Grijalva can be sworn in during what is known as a "pro forma session" — a quick gaveling-in of the House on out-of-session weeks to prevent the president from making recess appointments.
- "Common practice in the House of Representatives requires that Representatives-elect in special elections in which results are not in doubt be sworn in at the earliest opportunity," Clark wrote.
- She pointed to the examples of Reps. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) and Jimmy Patronis (R-Fla.) being sworn in during pro forma sessions just 24 hours after they were elected in April.
Zoom out: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has previously made similar allegations against Johnson, claiming in a virtual interview last week that "Republicans are trying to push back the swearing in."
- "This is probably being done because she's the 218th vote on releasing the Epstein files," Jeffries said.
- Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) sent Johnson a letter last week asking him to "immediately" swear in Grijalva.
The bottom line: "We ask that you reverse your decision to cancel votes on Tuesday, September 30," Clark wrote to Johnson in her letter on Monday.
- "If you remain unwilling to call the House into session, Representative-elect Grijalva should be sworn in during the pro forma session on Tuesday."
