Speaker Johnson stated he’d swear in new Home Democrat ‘as quickly as she desires.’ Now Republicans are backtracking

Speaker Mike Johnson is just not planning to permit Democrats’ latest congresswoman-elect to be sworn-in till her celebration agrees to finish the federal government shutdown, regardless of telling CNN earlier Tuesday that he would swear her in “as quickly as she desires.”

“We are going to swear in Rep.-Elect [Adelita] Grijalva as quickly because the Home returns to session when Chuck Schumer, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego determine to open up the federal government,” a management aide stated Tuesday.

The transfer quantities to a rare energy play to disclaim a sitting member a seat.

Whereas the management aide contended “it’s a customary apply within the Home to swear in members when the chamber is in legislative session,” Johnson swore in Florida GOP Reps. Jimmy Patronis and Randy Wonderful throughout a professional forma session earlier this yr.

As the federal government shutdown has dragged on with out the Senate capable of attain a deal to fund the federal government, the Home has been holding temporary “professional forma” classes the place the chamber is shortly gaveled out and isn’t engaged in legislative enterprise.

Johnson, requested earlier Tuesday why he had not sworn in Grijalva throughout a professional forma session when she was elected in September and whether or not it was related to a push to vote on the discharge of the Jeffrey Epstein case information, stated: “No, it has nothing to do with that in any respect. We are going to swear her in when everyone will get again. It’s a ceremonial obligation.”

“Look, we’ll schedule it, I assume, as quickly as she desires. It has nothing to do with it. I, we’re in professional forma session as a result of there’s nothing for the Home to do. The Home has carried out its job,” the speaker stated when pressed by CNN on why he was ready for the complete Home to return.

Grijalva is predicted to offer the ultimate signature wanted on a petition to power a full Home vote on releasing additional supplies within the Epstein case, however Johnson has insisted the delay in her swearing-in is just not associated to that difficulty.

Johnson didn’t clarify why he has chosen to delay her swearing in, although he has dealt with different members otherwise.

“Speaker Johnson must cease dragging his ft and comply with the identical precedent he set in swearing in his Republican colleagues earlier this yr. If he would merely give me a date and time, I shall be there,” Grijalva stated in a press release to CNN.

The incoming congresswoman, who received a particular election two weeks in the past, has been calling on Johnson to offer a date for her swearing in, arguing in a letter to the speaker on Monday that the delay “is robbing the individuals of Southern Arizona of important constituent companies.”

Rep. Jim McGovern, the highest Democrat on the Home Guidelines Committee, advised reporters on the Capitol on Monday, that it’s “outrageous” that Grijalva had not but been sworn in.

“That is outrageous. You bought the White Home undermining our democracy. Now you bought the speaker of the Home doing the identical factor. I imply, that is all a few continuation of the Epstein cowl up,” he stated.

This story has been up to date with further particulars.

CNN’s Ellis Kim contributed to this report.

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