Who is Adelita Grijalva and what is the controversy over her being sworn in to Congress?
October 9, 2025
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.