News Summary
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes plans to file a lawsuit against House Speaker Mike Johnson for refusing to swear in Democratic Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva. The lawsuit alleges Johnson is unlawfully denying Grijalva her right to office due to her intentions regarding Jeffrey Epstein files. Mayes emphasizes the importance of representation for Arizona residents amid ongoing government shutdown tensions. Despite Johnson’s dismissal of the lawsuit as a publicity stunt, the case raises significant legal and political questions about congressional representation.
Arizona – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is preparing to file a lawsuit against House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La, over his refusal to swear in Democratic Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva during the current government shutdown. This legal action stems from allegations that Johnson is unlawfully denying a duly elected lawmaker the right to assume her office.
The lawsuit claims that Johnson’s actions violate established law, particularly in light of the fact that Grijalva was certified as the winner of her special election on September 23. Mayes points out that Johnson is delaying Grijalva’s swearing-in because she intends to take action concerning the release of Jeffrey Epstein files through a discharge petition. The Attorney General has made it clear that her office will take steps to protect the interests of Arizona residents amid this ongoing situation.
Legal litigation is expected to take several days to draft and process, with early next week being a potential timeframe for the availability of legal action text. While the specific charges in the lawsuit have yet to be disclosed, Mayes has already notified the House that if Johnson does not provide assurance regarding the timing and location of Grijalva’s swearing-in, she will pursue legal action.
In response, Johnson dismissed the lawsuit announcement as merely a publicity stunt orchestrated by Mayes and Democrats, suggesting it is intended to distract from the issues stemming from the government shutdown. He has maintained that Grijalva could still serve her constituents without being sworn in, as she has access to her office. Johnson also stated that the House will remain in recess until Senate Democrats agree to legislation to end the government shutdown, which has been in effect since September 19, prior to Grijalva’s election.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has voiced his support for Mayes and sent a letter to Johnson urging him to swear in Grijalva. Jeffries has accused Johnson of attempting to conceal the Epstein files from public scrutiny by refusing to seat Grijalva, thereby leaving approximately 800,000 Arizona residents without representation.
The situation draws attention to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from 1969, which stipulates that the House cannot exclude duly elected members who meet the constitutional requirements. Grijalva herself has characterized the delay in her swearing-in as unacceptable for Arizona and has expressed frustration at the lack of representation for her constituents.
This case arises against the backdrop of an ongoing government shutdown and highlights the tensions between political leaders over the functioning of Congress and representation of newly elected officials. As Mayes prepares to take legal action against Johnson, the situation continues to unfold, underscoring the complexities of legislative processes during times of governmental impasse.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- ABC15 News
- Wikipedia: United States House of Representatives
- AZCentral
- Google Search: Adelita Grijalva lawsuit
- Axios
- Google Scholar: Adelita Grijalva
- The Hill
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Government Shutdown
- Deseret News
- Google News: Congress swearing in lawsuit
Author: STAFF HERE PHOENIX WRITER
The PHOENIX STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPhoenix.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Phoenix, Maricopa County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Cactus League Spring Training, and Arizona State Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and Visit Phoenix, plus leading businesses in technology and healthcare that power the local economy such as Intel and Banner Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERETucson.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Arizona's dynamic landscape.
