It’s been a month since the Republican-controlled House of Representatives last held a vote, and the chamber’s extended recess has triggered a political firestorm that’s engulfed Washington. At the center of the controversy is House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose refusal to reconvene the House and swear in Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona has drawn sharp criticism from both sides of the aisle. The reason behind the standoff? A growing consensus among Democrats—and even some Republicans—that Johnson is blocking efforts to force a vote on releasing government files related to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, a move that could have major implications for former President Donald Trump.
According to Salon and other sources, the last time the House voted was back on September 19, 2025, when Republicans passed a short-term government funding bill and a resolution honoring a controversial right-wing figure. Less than two weeks later, on October 1, the government shut down after the Senate failed to pass the House’s partisan funding package. Yet, instead of bringing lawmakers back to negotiate a deal to reopen the government, Johnson has kept the House out of session—effectively grinding legislative business to a halt.
Why the hold-up? Democrats say the answer is clear: Johnson is determined to avoid a vote on releasing the government’s files on Epstein, and the key to that vote is Rep.-elect Grijalva, who won her seat in Arizona’s 7th district on September 23. Grijalva is expected to be the final signature needed on a petition to force the House to act. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries put it bluntly in a letter to Johnson on October 16, writing, “Her election has been officially certified by the state of Arizona. In fact, it was never in question. Yet, for more than three weeks House Republicans have denied the people of Arizona’s 7th district their rightful representation in Congress. The continued refusal to seat Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva for partisan advantage undermines the integrity of this institution.”
Johnson, however, insists the delay is procedural. He’s repeatedly claimed that he will administer the oath to Grijalva “on the first day we come back into legislative session,” blaming the ongoing government shutdown for the holdup. At a recent news conference, Johnson said, “I will administer the oath to her, I hope, on the first day we come back into legislative session. I’m willing and anxious to do that. In the meantime, instead of doing TikTok videos, she should be serving her constituents.” Critics quickly pointed out the irony: Grijalva cannot serve her constituents until she’s officially sworn in.
Johnson has also compared his actions to those of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who waited until the House returned from an August recess to swear in special election winners. “Pat Ryan, Joe Sempolinski. They were elected during an August recess. So, 21 days later, when the House returned to regular legislative session, they were administered the oath. That’s what we’re doing. We’re not in session right now. Rep. Grijalva was elected after the House was out of session. As soon as we return to legislative session, as soon as the Democrats decide to turn the lights back on so we can all get back here, I will administer the oath,” Johnson said on ABC’s “This Week.”
But Democrats—and some Republicans—aren’t buying it. They argue the current month-long recess is entirely Johnson’s decision, and there’s urgent work Congress should be doing. “Republicans refuse to swear in an elected Member of Congress. Why? They are covering up the Epstein files,” charged Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado on X. Far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed the frustration: “The House should be in session working. We should be finishing appropriations. Our committees should be working. We should be passing bills that make President Trump’s executive orders permanent. I have no respect for the decision to refuse to work.”
Even within Republican ranks, some are openly questioning Johnson’s leadership. Rep. Kevin Kiley of California wrote, “I disagree with [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer’s decision to shut down the government. But I also disagree with Speaker Johnson’s decision to shut down the House of Representatives. That’s why I returned to D.C.”
Behind the procedural wrangling, a deeper and more contentious issue is at play. As Salon’s Amanda Marcotte reports, Johnson’s refusal to seat Grijalva and block a House vote on the Epstein files is widely seen as an attempt to shield Trump—described in leaked documents as Epstein’s “closest friend”—from further scrutiny. A birthday message from Trump to Epstein, leaked by House Democrats, allegedly reads, “We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.” During a recent Senate hearing, Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to answer questions about “photos of President Trump with half-naked young women,” fueling further speculation about the contents of the files.
Marcotte argues that Johnson’s actions are not just about protecting Trump, but also about sending a message to victims of sexual abuse. “There is no doubt of the message being sent to abuse victims by Johnson, Trump, Bondi and everyone else involved in the cover-up: There’s no use in speaking out, because you will never see justice,” she writes. She points to the civil court victories of journalist E. Jean Carroll, who won $5 million and then $83 million in damages after suing Trump for sexual assault and defamation, as evidence of a broader backlash against the #MeToo movement. “The GOP’s shameful actions are just the most blatant example of how the #MeToo backlash has nothing to do with innocence, and everything to do with shielding men from the consequences of bad behavior.”
The roots of the Epstein scandal stretch back years. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His 2008 “sweetheart deal” with prosecutors—brokered by Alexander Acosta, who later became Trump’s labor secretary—allowed Epstein to serve minimal jail time. It was only after persistent investigative reporting by the Miami Herald and the courage of victims that federal prosecutors in New York charged Epstein again in 2019.
Since July 3, 2025, the House has been in session for only 20 days, with Johnson calling lawmakers back primarily to pass tax legislation that favored the wealthy. Critics say the extended recess and refusal to reconvene the House are motivated by a desire to avoid a vote on the Epstein files—a move that could have explosive political consequences, especially with Trump’s name reportedly appearing throughout the documents.
The standoff has become a flashpoint in the ongoing culture war over sexual abuse, accountability, and political power. For many, the refusal to release the Epstein files and seat Grijalva is emblematic of a broader attempt to silence victims and protect those in power. As Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona bluntly put it, “Speaker Johnson is protecting pedophiles. That’s what this is all about.” Johnson has denied the charge, but the controversy shows no signs of letting up.
As the government shutdown drags on and public pressure mounts, the battle over the Epstein files has become a defining test of transparency and accountability in Washington. Whether Speaker Johnson will relent and allow the House to return to work—and whether the truth about Epstein’s connections will finally come to light—remains to be seen.
