2:36Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva attends a press event highlighting her delayed swearing in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, October 15, 2025. Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
The state of Arizona initiated legal action against the House of Representatives this Tuesday, contesting Speaker Mike Johnson's choice to postpone the induction of Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva until after the resolution of the government impasse.
"This legal proceeding concerns whether an individual properly elected to the House — who undeniably fulfills the constitutional prerequisites for the position — can be denied their legitimate seat simply due to the Speaker’s determination to keep the House from convening in 'regular session,'" the legal filing asserts. "Were the Speaker to be afforded such control, he could frustrate the electorate’s selection of their congressional representative by preventing their representation for a noteworthy portion of the Constitutionally-mandated two-year term."
Grijalva triumphed in a special election held on Sept. 23 in Arizona’s 7th District, succeeding her father, the Honorable Rep. Raul Grijalva, who passed away in March, just four days after Johnson dismissed legislators subsequent to the House’s approval of a clean continuing resolution designed to finance governmental functions.
While the matter has shadowed the speaker throughout the funding lapse, Johnson has dismissed the hold-up, asserting that his verdict bears no connection to Grijalva's intention to furnish the 218th endorsement on a discharge petition aimed at compelling a vote to disclose the Department of Justice's comprehensive Jeffrey Epstein documents.
Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva attends a press event highlighting her delayed swearing in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, October 15, 2025.Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
The suit arises after Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, in a letter dispatched last week, urged Johnson to administer the oath of office to Grijalva.
The AG is spearheading the litigation, which was lodged in the District of Columbia.
In remarks shared on X, Grijalva stated: "@AZAGMayes and I are pursuing legal recourse to ensure that the voices of over 800,000 Arizonans in AZ-07 are no longer suppressed. @SpeakerJohnson’s impediment has moved beyond minor partisan actions — it's an illegal violation of our Constitution and the democratic system."
Johnson has reiterated that he will not swear in Grijalva until the government resumes operations.
ABC News' John Parkinson assisted with this reporting.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
