US Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva sworn in, teeing up potential vote on Epstein files

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA)— US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday swore in Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, ending a seven-week impasse that had delayed the lawmaker from assuming her seat and paving the way for a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The House has been out of session since Sept. 19, and Johnson declined to swear in Grijalva during the chamber’s recess amid the ongoing government shutdown, which is now in its 43rd day.

Grijalva is expected to become the 218th member needed to advance a discharge petition, compelling the House to hold a vote on making all records related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein publicly available.

The Democrat from the state of Arizona won a special election on Sept. 23 to replace her father, Rep. Raul Grijalva, who died in March.