Speaker Johnson delays Grijalva swearing-in as Epstein petition nears threshold

House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to administer the oath of office to Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, citing a pending government shutdown and suggesting procedural grounds, in an action Grijalva and Arizona Democrats characterized as politically motivated obstruction. Arizona filed suit challenging Johnson's authority to unilaterally delay seating a duly elected member. Legal scholars noted the Constitution gives each chamber the right to judge the qualifications of its own members but does not give the Speaker authority to delay swearing in members without cause.