Grijalva oath delayed as discharge petition on Epstein files stalls

Adelita Grijalva, the Democrat who won a special election last month to fill the late Raul Grijalva’s seat in Arizona, arrived in Washington this week expecting to be sworn into the House but returned to her district still a representative-elect after Speaker Mike Johnson declined to administer the oath while the chamber remains largely out of legislative session amid a government funding dispute. The delay has left her unable to open her office, perform constituent services or take part in House business.

Grijalva and House Democrats say the hold is intended to prevent her from signing a discharge petition that would compel a vote on releasing Justice Department files related to financier Jeffrey Epstein, a move opposed by the speaker and by President Donald Trump. The petition needs 218 signatures to trigger the process; it has collected 217, and Grijalva would be the final signer. A discharge petition that reaches 218 is entered into the record and must then wait seven legislative days before a member can request a floor vote.

Johnson has denied that withholding the oath is tied to the petition, saying he will swear Grijalva in when the House returns to full session. He told...