In a swirl of political maneuvering and public outcry, Arizona’s 7th Congressional District finds itself at the epicenter of a high-stakes standoff in Washington, D.C. Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, who recently secured her seat in a special election following the passing of her father, has yet to be sworn into Congress—a delay that’s drawing sharp criticism from Democrats and fueling speculation about the motivations behind the holdup.
Grijalva’s victory on September 23, 2025, was supposed to mark a new chapter for the district and for her family’s storied legacy in Arizona politics. Instead, her path to Capitol Hill has been blocked, not by voters or rivals, but by the ongoing federal government shutdown and the decisions of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. According to reporting from The Deseret News and other outlets, Johnson has refused to administer the oath of office until the government reopens, citing procedural norms. Yet, Democrats argue there’s more to the story—and at the heart of the controversy lies the explosive issue of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Grijalva’s swearing-in is no mere formality. She is widely expected to be the 218th and final signature on a discharge petition that would force the Justice Department to release all its investigative materials related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Under House rules, once a petition reaches 218 signatures, it is immediately frozen and printed into the congressional record, setting the stage for a possible floor vote after a seven-day waiting period. Grijalva’s addition would tip the scales, making action on the long-simmering Epstein files all but inevitable.
But with the House not in session since September 19—and with votes canceled from October 6 to 14 as part of a Republican effort to pressure Senate Democrats on a spending resolution—Grijalva remains in limbo. She even traveled to Washington last week, hoping to join her colleagues as they gathered on Capitol Hill amid the shutdown. Instead, she found herself on the sidelines, unable to take the oath or cast a single vote.
For Democrats, the delay smacks of political gamesmanship. Many believe that Republican leaders are stonewalling to prevent the release of the Epstein files, a move that could have unpredictable ramifications for both parties. As Grijalva herself declared in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “I would be the final vote on releasing the Epstein Files and they don’t want them out. The American people deserve transparency and accountability!”
House rules do allow for new members to be sworn in during so-called pro forma sessions—brief meetings held during recess that don’t involve legislative business. In fact, Republican Reps. Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis were both sworn in on April 2 during such a session. Yet, despite three pro forma sessions since Grijalva’s victory, she has not been afforded the same opportunity. Rep. Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, even took to the House floor during a recent pro forma session to seek recognition and request a date for Grijalva’s swearing-in. But Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., presiding at the time, adjourned without acknowledging him.
McGovern didn’t mince words in his frustration, telling reporters, “What we asked for was that we get a commitment that the speaker swear in Rep.-elect Grijalva at the next legislative day, which could be a pro forma day, or it could be a day where we’re doing legislation. I mean, they are so frightened of the Epstein files. I don’t know what the hell’s in them, but this place doesn’t work. This is outrageous.”
The discharge petition in question was filed by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., last month. It’s a rare procedural move that allows lawmakers to bypass leadership and bring legislation directly to the House floor, provided they secure a majority of signatures. Grijalva would join all House Democrats who have already signed, as well as four Republicans: Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.).
Republican leadership, meanwhile, has been wary of forcing a vote on the matter, in part due to opposition from former President Donald Trump. A White House official told The Deseret News in early September that a signature on the petition would “be viewed as a very hostile act to the administration.” Instead, Republicans have passed a resolution encouraging the House Oversight Committee to continue its own investigation into Epstein—a probe that, according to Speaker Johnson, has already resulted in the Justice Department handing over thousands of pages of documents to lawmakers last month.
But Massie and his allies argue that this resolution falls short. It only requires the Oversight Committee to publish the documents handed over by the DOJ, not compel the DOJ itself to release all materials in its possession. The distinction, they say, is crucial for full transparency.
Johnson has publicly denied any political motive behind the delay, telling MSNBC, “I want every page of this out. Donald Trump is not implicated in this. He wants to protect the innocent victims. He’s very passionate about that. He’s for maximum disclosure and his DOJ has shown that.” Johnson insists that the House must be in session to swear in new members, and that Grijalva will be added “in regular order” once business resumes. “And I congratulate her. She’s filling her father’s seat. He had a long career in Congress, and I’m sure she will as well. So, we look forward to that,” he said.
While the political drama unfolds in Washington, Grijalva has also been vocal about issues closer to home. On October 6, she appeared on CNN News Central to discuss border policy and its impact on Arizona’s economy. She stated unequivocally that she opposes the Trump administration’s policy that has decreased the number of undocumented immigrants entering Arizona. “No, I do not,” she replied when asked if she supported the policy. “I think we have to have a pathway to legalization. … Many of the communities here in CD-7 are asking for an expedited H-2A visa process in order to be able to have workers. Yuma County is our — like the lettuce capital of the nation, and we don’t have enough people to be able to take off the fruits and vegetables from the vines that are going into our grocery stores. And so, we are creating food deserts. It’s becoming incredibly problematic and very expensive.”
Grijalva went on to highlight the real-world consequences of current immigration policies, noting that the undocumented population in Arizona has fallen by as much as half since its peak in 2008. She pointed to rising grocery prices and the growing difficulty of making ends meet, especially for working families like her own. “I don’t know if many of the people that are making these decisions have gone to the grocery store lately, but I’m a mom of three kids and have not had — I resigned from my position in April. So, do the math on checks coming into our household. And I could buy a weeks’ worth of groceries before for $100. That is not the case anymore. And it is becoming harder and harder for people to make ends meet.”
As the government shutdown drags on and the standoff over the Epstein files continues, Arizona’s 7th District—and the nation—watch and wait. For now, Adelita Grijalva remains a representative-elect, her official duties on hold, her constituents left without a voice on the House floor, and her political future intertwined with one of the most contentious transparency battles in recent memory.
