Arizona Lawyer Common Kris Mayes (D) on Tuesday threatened authorized motion if Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) delays swearing in Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (Ariz.).
“It’s way past time for Mike Johnson to stop the political games and seat Adelita without delay. Today, my office is sending a letter to Speaker Johnson demanding he do so,” Mayes stated in an announcement on Tuesday. “We are keeping every option open to us, including litigation, to hold him accountable and make sure that Adelita is able to begin her work as Arizona’s newest member of Congress.”
Grijalva gained a particular election on Sept. 23 for the Arizona seat that was lengthy held by her father, the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.). However regardless of decisively successful the seat, she has not but been sworn in.
Johnson has canceled weeks of beforehand scheduled votes and saved the Home in recess amid the federal government shutdown as he goals to strain Senate Democrats into accepting the GOP-crafted, Home-passed “clean” stopgap invoice to fund the federal government by Nov. 21.
He has declined to swear Grijalva in through the temporary “pro forma” classes that the chamber holds for constitutional appointment causes, and he has stated he’ll swear in Grijalva when the Home is again in common session — reiterating the place in an announcement in response to Mayes on Tuesday.
“As I have said repeatedly, the House will follow customary practice by swearing in Rep-elect Grijalva when the House is in legislative session,” Johnson stated in an announcement.
Mayes despatched a letter to Johnson on Tuesday reiterating her demand, noting the state on Tuesday will transmit to the Home a certificates of election validating Grijalva’s win.
“Ms. Grijalva no longer needs a House resolution to be sworn into office. With the House in possession of the certificate of election, it is now a simple ministerial duty to administer the oath of office,” Mayes wrote.
“The House is without authority to refuse her oath and admission,” Mayes stated.
The Arizona lawyer common requested Johnson to reply inside two days with an assurance that Grijalva can be sworn in, saying it “must be immediate and prior to the date the House comes back into regular session.”
Democrats have known as for Grijalva to be sworn in at a professional forma session — saying Johnson set precedent for doing so simply months in the past. Two Florida Republicans had been sworn in throughout a professional forma session on April 2, the day after their particular elections.
Johnson stated that state of affairs is completely different as a result of votes beforehand scheduled for that day had been canceled simply at some point earlier than, and so Republicans went forward with the swearing-in for the reason that ceremonial plans had already been made. Johnson canceled votes for Sept. 29 and 30 earlier than Grijalva’s particular election, and he has canceled all beforehand scheduled voting days within the Home for the reason that starting of the shutdown.
In a press convention Tuesday morning, Johnson famous that after Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) was elected in a particular election in 2021, she was not sworn in by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for 25 days.
“No Democrats jumped up and down and screamed about that, nor do I recall any Republicans, because everybody understood this is the process of the House. You do it as soon as you’re able to do it,” Johnson stated.
Not swearing in Grijalva additionally delays a months-long effort to bypass Home management on a invoice compelling the Division of Justice to launch information associated to the intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein — with Grijalva being the 218th and ultimate signature wanted on the procedural gambit known as a discharge petition to power motion on the measure. GOP leaders argue the invoice is just not wanted for the reason that Home Oversight and Authorities Reform Committee is investigating the Epstein matter.
Johnson stated the delay in swearing in Grijalva has nothing to do with the Epstein information.
“It has nothing to do with that at all. We will swear her in when everybody gets back,” Johnson stated final week.
