LOADINGERROR LOADING House Speaker Mike Johnson struggled to justify his failure to swear in a new Democratic House member when pressed on the subject in a Sunday ABC News interview.
Advertisement It’s an inconsistency that ABC reporter Jonathan Karl called out during the interview, prompting Johnson to grasp for an explanation.
She was elected after we were out of session,” Johnson said.
Advertisement The House is currently out of session because Johnson has shuttered it to put pressure on Democrats to end the government shutdown.
Previously, Johnson swore in Reps. Jimmy Patronis (R-Florida) and Randy Fine (R-Florida) during a “pro forma” session in April.
In a Sunday interview with ABC News, House Speaker Mike Johnson was asked why he had not sworn in a new Democratic member of the House.
He would seat Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Arizona), Johnson insisted on several times. ) even though he had previously sworn in Republican members when the lower house was not in session, when the House was back in legislative session.
Johnson was forced to seek an explanation after ABC reporter Jonathan Karl pointed out the inconsistency during the interview.
Karl asked sharply, “You could swear her in tomorrow, right?”.
“We couldn’t, we wouldn’t, not tomorrow,” Johnson remarked. “Earlier in this Congress, two Floridians were granted an exception. They were duly elected, though, which was the cause. A date had been decided upon. The House abruptly adjourned after they flew in all of their friends and family. “.”.
Karl retorted, “So if she flies in friends and family—”.
We don’t have a specific date in mind. Johnson stated, “She was elected after we were out of session.”.
Johnson has been under increasing pressure to swear in Grijalva, who was elected on September 23 to her Arizona district but has not yet been assigned to a congressional seat. Grijalva’s constituents are now being denied representation in Congress as a result of Johnson’s actions, Democrats have emphasized, and they have accused him of being hesitant because she supported a bill that would have released the Jeffrey Epstein files.
In addition to expressing her desire to be sworn in herself, Grijalva was one of the dozens of Democrats who marched to Johnson’s office last Tuesday and called on him to act.
Just to be clear, I would have already been sworn in if I were a Republican, and that is unacceptable. At the time, Grijalva stated, “They’re scared of me signing and being the 218th signer to the Epstein petition.
Grijalva has promised to be the last vote required in response to a petition from a representative. Massie Thomas (R-Ky. which might compel a vote on a bill related to the Epstein files’ disclosure.
Because Johnson shut down the House to pressure Democrats to end the government shutdown, the House is currently not in session.
In a “pro forma” session—a procedural session that is still taking place during the shutdown—Johnson could elect to swear in Grijalva or he could have the House reopened.
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Johnson had previously sworn in representatives. In April, Jimmy Patronis (R-Florida) and Randy Fine (R-Florida) met “pro forma.”.
