TELL THE U.S. HOUSE: Speaker Johnson won’t swear-in newly elected Democrat Adelita Grijalva, who would be the majority-clinching 218th signature to finally force a vote on releasing the Epstein files. The Arizona Attorney General has threatened a lawsuit if she’s not sworn in to represent her constituents. It’s been 3 weeks of delay on Grijalva and months of delay on the Epstein files. Sign the petition: End the cover-up — force a vote on releasing the Epstein files!

Speaker Johnson has delayed swearing in newly elected Democrat Adelita Grijalva for three weeks.1 Grijalva pledged to be the 218th signature on the discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files — making a majority in the House.2 But Speaker Johnson and Trump are continuing to hide the truth from the public on Epstein’s crimes and accomplices.

Speaker Johnson is using bogus excuses to delay the swearing-in just like he and Trump have used blatant delay tactics to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Now, the Arizona Attorney General is threatening to sue in order to seat Grijalva if Johnson continues to deny the people of Arizona their representation in Congress.3

Members of Congress and allies marched the halls of the Capitol this week to call for an end to Johnson blocking Grijalva from taking office. Our lawmakers in the House must keep up the pressure to seat Grijalva, force a vote, and push for the release of the Epstein files!

Sign the petition: Don’t let Trump hide. Force a House vote to release the Epstein files!

Two Republicans who were elected to the House in special elections this year were sworn in the NEXT DAY.4

But Johnson is continuing to delay Grijalva’s swearing in, cancelling House votes and prolonging the government shutdown while shielding some of the world’s most wealthy and powerful people from accountability for being in league with a convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Rep. Thomas Massie, one of the lawmakers leading the discharge petition to force a vote in Congress on releasing the files, said, “I believe that Trump is trying to protect rich and powerful people who are his friends, and that is why this material is not getting released.”5 Trump is also trying to protect himself.

The discharge petition has bipartisan support and is just one signature away from taking a big step toward answering the calls of survivors, advocates, and the public. Our lawmakers must release the files NOW.

Sign the petition: Urge your U.S. Representative to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files!

Thanks for taking action,

Joey and the Demand Progress team

Sources:

  1. AZ Central, “Arizona attorney general threatens to sue over Adelita Grijalva swearing-in delay,” October 14, 2025.
  2. Bloomberg, “The House Has a New Democrat — and a Shrinking GOP Margin,” September 27, 2025.
  3. AZ Central, “Arizona attorney general threatens to sue over Adelita Grijalva swearing-in delay,” October 14, 2025.
  4. The Los Angeles Times, “She won a landslide election. But Trump and Jeffrey Epstein have her stuck in limbo,” October 12, 2025.
  5. The New Republic, “GOP Rep Rips Trump and Kash Patel for Covering Up Epstein Files Case,” September 22, 2025.

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