MATT BROWN and KEVIN FREKING.

FILE - Arizona Democratic candidate Adelita Grijalva, right, smiles as she celebrates with her mother Ramona Grijalva after being declared the winner against Republican Daniel Butierez to fill the Congressional District 7 seat held by the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva in a special election Sept. 23, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Who is Adelita Grijalva and what is the controversy over her being sworn in to Congress?

Democrats are ramping up pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in the newest member of Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson says Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva can’t be sworn in because of the government shutdown. But Democrats disagree. They say the delay is intended to stall action on legislation related to the Jeffrey Epstein files. Grijalva told The Associated Press that she did not at first believe the delay was related to the Epstein files, but she now has her doubts. She won a special election last month to succeed her father, Rep. Raul Grijalva, who died in March.

Read More »
FILE - Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., demands the release of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka after his arrest while protesting outside Delaney Hall ICE detention facility, Friday, May 9, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, File)

House rejects effort to censure New Jersey congresswoman over actions at detention center

The House has rejected a resolution to censure Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey. Republicans sought to censure McIver and remove her from a committee as she faces federal charges stemming from a visit to an immigration detention facility in May. But the House voted 215-207 on Wednesday to table the measure. The censure resolution recounted how McIver is alleged to have interfered with Homeland Security Investigations officials from making an arrest of an unauthorized visitor. McIver has pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial in her case has been scheduled for November.

Read More »