Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D) filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) of violating the Constitution by refusing to seat Grijalva nearly a month after her special election victory.
Grijalva won Arizona’s 7th Congressional District on Sept. 23, filling the seat left vacant by her late father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva. Despite certification of the results last week, Johnson has not administered the oath of office, citing the government shutdown and the lack of a full House session.
“Speaker Johnson’s obstruction has gone far beyond petty partisan politics — it’s an unlawful breach of our Constitution,” Grijalva said. Mayes added that Johnson was “disenfranchising” Arizona voters and subjecting them to “taxation without representation.”
Arizona’s complaint argues that Johnson has no constitutional authority to delay seating a duly elected member and that his refusal may be politically motivated, allegedly linked to preventing a discharge petition for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Johnson denied those allegations.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Johnson’s actions “a disgrace,” saying they disrespected both Arizona voters and the U.S. House. The case asks the court to compel Johnson to swear in Grijalva or allow another official to do so.
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