A Democratic congresswoman has been blocked from taking her seat in the House of Representatives after she threatened to cast the deciding vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Adelita Grijalva, 54, was elected in Arizona last month, succeeding her father, Raúl Grijalva, who died this year. She said Republicans, led by the House speaker Mike Johnson, were “afraid” that if they allowed her to take her seat the House would be forced to release evidence relating to Epstein, the late paedophile financier.
Those calling for the release of the files need 218 signatures on a petition to overrule Johnson and secure a vote. The Democrats remain stuck on 217 signatures after convincing a handful of Republicans to rebel. Grijalva has promised to sign the petition once she takes her seat.
Grijalva promised to add her signature to the Democrat petition for releasing the Epstein files
ELIZABETH FRANTZ/REUTERS
President Trump, who was friends with Epstein during the 1990s and early 2000s, has called the files a “Democrat hoax”.
An alleged doodle by Trump of a naked woman appeared in a 50th birthday book for Epstein that was released by Congress last month and Democrats believe the rest of the files could contain damaging information about the president’s relationship with the convicted child sex trafficker. The White House has denied Trump drew the image.
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Johnson has said the decision to block Grijalva’s swearing-in has “nothing to do” with the petition to hold a vote on the Epstein files and said he could not allow Grijalva to take her seat during the government shutdown.
“We will swear her in when everybody gets back,” he said.
Mike Johnson insisted the delay was due to the government shutdown
ELIZABETH FRANTZ/REUTERS
However, Democrats said the House was still holding “pro forma” sessions to deal with administrative issues and that Grijalva’s swearing-in could take place then.
They have pointed out that two Florida Republicans were seated this year during a pro forma session the day after they were elected. It has been more than three weeks since Grijalva was elected.
“If I were a Republican I would have already been sworn in,” she said. “They are afraid of me signing and being the 218th signer to the Epstein petition”.
