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“Must Be Nice”: Rep. Adelita Grijalva Slams Speaker Mike Johnson After Rapid Swearing-In Of New GOP Member

01:16 AM, 12/05/2025
“Must Be Nice”: Rep. Adelita Grijalva Slams Speaker Mike Johnson After Rapid Swearing-In Of New GOP Member

Quick Take: Rep. Adelita Grijalva, who waited roughly seven weeks after her Sept. 23 special election victory to be sworn into the House, criticized Speaker Mike Johnson after he quickly swore in Rep. Matt Van Epps less than 48 hours after his win. Grijalva’s delayed seating prompted accusations that leadership sought to block a potential 218th vote on Jeffrey Epstein-related files and led to a lawsuit by Arizona’s attorney general. Grijalva also posted video showing she lacked the credentials to use office equipment while waiting.

Rep. Adelita Grijalva Criticizes Speaker After Swift Swearing-In Of New Republican

Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who won a Sept. 23 special election but waited about seven weeks to be sworn into the U.S. House, publicly criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) after he quickly administered the oath to newly elected Republican Rep. Matt Van Epps (R-Tenn.).

Johnson swore in Van Epps less than 48 hours after Van Epps won a special election by roughly nine percentage points over Democrat Aftyn Behn. Grijalva reposted C-SPAN footage of the Van Epps swearing-in on X and wrote:

"Less than 48 hours after winning… must be nice."

Grijalva’s own swearing-in did not occur until Nov. 10, after a short government shutdown ended—a delay of roughly seven weeks (commonly described in media reports as nearly 50 days). Supporters of Grijalva argued at the time that the Speaker had stalled her seating because she had pledged to cast what would be the 218th vote to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Arizona’s attorney general filed a lawsuit contending the Speaker was required to swear her in without delay.

When asked about the delay, Johnson told Fox News, "She doesn't know how it works around here. We're going to give her the oath of office as soon as we get back to regular session." He later told CNBC that while she awaited the oath she could still be serving constituents, noting she had hired staff and suggesting those staffers were staging publicity efforts.

Grijalva responded with a short social media video demonstrating practical limits on her ability to work before being sworn in: although her office had been opened, she said she could not use key equipment because she lacked a government email and credentials. "We got access to the office," she said in the clip. "Check out this super cool printer. I can't print to it, though, because I don't have a government email." She also showed laptops she could not unlock.

This dispute underscores ongoing tensions in the House over the timing and administration of members’ oaths and raises broader questions about the degree to which House leadership can influence when newly elected members assume their formal duties.

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