Newly elected Adelita Grijalva says Mike Johnson delaying her swearing-in due to Epstein files

PHOENIX — Newly elected Democratic U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva could make or break the release of investigative files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex abuse case.

It all depends on when she is sworn in — which she says Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is delaying.

“It is Day Two in Washington, D.C. Speaker Johnson has left the building, and, unfortunately, what that means is southern Arizona does not have a voice here,” she said in a Tuesday video posted to social media. “Reach out to Speaker Johnson. Let him know I need to be sworn in.”

Day 2 in D.C. and #AZ07 is still left without a vote and voice here in Washington. pic.twitter.com/0joyRVWxpF

— Adelita Grijalva (@AdelitaForAZ) September 30, 2025

Grijalva won the 7th Congressional District seat by a landslide last week. She succeeded her father, Raúl Grijalva, who died from cancer in March after serving the U.S. House for 11 terms since 2002.

What does Adelita Grijalva have to do with the Epstein files?

Johnson’s decision to delay her swearing-in seems fishy to Grijalva, who suspects it has something to do with the Epstein case.

Grijalva has promised to sign a discharge petition that would force a vote on the Epstein files.

She believes this is why Johnson is breaking his precedent of swearing in Republicans during pro forma sessions less than 24 hours after their elections.

“The fact that southern Arizona is being treated differently raises serious questions about political motivations – especially since I have pledged to become the 218th signature on the discharge petition to force a vote on the Epstein files,” Grijalva said in a Tuesday announcement.

What could happen if the discharge petition is successful?

Currently, the petition is just one signature shy of forcing the vote.

If Grijalva is sworn in and votes to release the Epstein files, it could pave the way for explosive revelations, potentially implicating individuals identified by victims of the New York financier, who died in 2019 while facing charges of sex abuse and trafficking.

Grijalva isn’t the only Arizona Democrat who finds Johnson’s behavior fishy. U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari has also tied Johnson’s refusal to seat Grijalva to the Epstein files.

“House Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to listen to the will of Arizonans and seat a newly elected member of Congress, all to help abusers avoid accountability when it comes to the Epstein files,” Ansari said in a Tuesday statement.

“She would be the deciding signature on the discharge petition to release the Epstein files, but Mike Johnson and Republican leadership are blocking her swearing in and rejecting the will of Arizona voters, all to assist in the Trump administration’s cover-up of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuses.”

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