Arizona AG threatens legal action if Johnson doesn't seat recently elected Democrat

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

10/14/25 4:17 PM ET


Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) on Tuesday threatened legal action if Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) delays swearing in Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (Ariz.). “It’s way past time for Mike Johnson to stop the political games and seat Adelita without delay. Today, my office is sending a letter to Speaker Johnson demanding he do so,” Mayes said in a statement on Tuesday. “We are keeping every option open to us, including litigation, to hold him accountable and make sure that Adelita is able to begin her work as Arizona’s newest member of Congress.”

Grijalva won a special election on Sept. 23 for the Arizona seat that was long held by her father, the late Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.). But despite decisively winning the seat, she has not yet been sworn in. Johnson has canceled weeks of previously scheduled votes and kept the House in recess amid the government shutdown as he aims to pressure Senate Democrats into accepting the GOP-crafted, House-passed “clean” stopgap to fund the government through Nov. 21.

He has declined to swear Grijalva in during the brief “pro forma” sessions that the chamber holds for constitutional appointment reasons, and has said he will swear in Grijalva when the House is back in regular session — reiterating the position in a statement in response to Mayes on Tuesday. “As I have said repeatedly, the House will follow customary practice by swearing in Rep-elect Grijalva when the House is in legislative session,” Johnson said in a statement.

Mayes sent a letter to Johnson on Tuesday reiterating his demand, noting the state on Tuesday will transmit to the House a certificate of election validating Grijalva’s win. “Ms. Grijalva no longer needs a House resolution to be sworn into office. With the House in possession of the certificate of election, it is now a simple ministerial duty to administer the oath of office,” Mayes wrote.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5555382-arizona-ag-johnson-grijalva/

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Link to AZ AG Kris Mayes' LETTER (PDF) - https://mcusercontent.com/cc1fad182b6d6f8b1e352e206/files/1fb1e59b-bcdd-d322-4132-fc159cb2f13a/2025_10_14_Demand_Letter_to_Speaker_Johnson.pdf

[ananda]

1. And how long has it been already?

I mean, go for it, for sure.

But why wait so fucking late?

[BadgerMom]

7. I'm guessing, but I think the timing is related to the fact the election was certified today.

One of Johnson’s flimsy excuses was that he’d been waiting for the election certification.

[ananda]

11. Thank you.

The wheels of poltics grind exceeding slow.

[BadgerMom]

16. No kidding.

[ShazzieB]

12. The reason tor the timing is pretty clear if you read the letter.

The election was certified today, thereby removing one of Johnson's purported excuses for delaying Grijalva's swearing in and making this the perfect time for the AZ AG to throw down the gauntlet.

It's a great letter, BTW. It's very strongly worded and clearly spells out 1) why Johnson no longer has even a semi-valid excuse to continue the delay and 2) exactly what the AG's intentions are if he doesn't swear her in ASAP.

Kudos to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) for this!

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

2. Kick

[dweller]

3. Just have Justice Jackson administer the oath

and swear her in … done .
Enough screwing around with that worm


✌🏻

[onenote]

5. She can't and thus she won't.

By statute-- specifically 2 USC 25 -- it is the Speaker of the House that is empowered to swear in members of Congress. That law was passed in 1789 and has over 230 years of precedent supporting it. The only way that someone other than the Speaker can swear in a member is if the House passes a resolution giving the Speaker authority to deputize someone else to administer the oath. And you can take it to the bank that this Republican majority Congress isn't going to adopt any such resolution.

It is all spelled out in specific detail in the official "Precedents of the US House of Representatives"

See https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20709495

And let me be clear: I am not in any way defending Johnson's failure to swear in Grijalva. His inaction is unjustified and inexcusable. But the often repeated claim that any old judge can step and administer a legally binding oath is simply false. Even a swearing in that is pre-authorized by a House Resolution has to be accepted after the fact by the adoption of a subsequent resolution by the House.

[slightlv]

14. Okay... this is snark... but really... 230 years of precedent? So the frack what?

How many precedents have the republicans just blown off in this year alone? I say give and take what they give and take. Make them bite it.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. The Arizona Justice department will sue Mike Johnson if he doesn't seat Adelita Grijalva.

This will be fun to watch

Link to tweet

[Attilatheblond]

6. AZ AG Kirs Mayes does not suffer fools

and she does not ever back down.

AZ 7 is a district that represents a lot of Hispanics, hard working people whose roots here go back generations. This is infuriating people in the whole state. Johnson needs to do his obligated duty or he will be paying a lot to lawyers.

[wackadoo wabbit]

20. I know. Isn't she wonderful! (n/t)

[mountain grammy]

9. Bravo!!!!!

[mountain grammy]

8. Going out on a limb here with something that can't be proven in any way

but in my opinion, Mike Johnson lies more than trump.. or it's a tie, or whatever!! I'm sick of that lying snake, both of them and their bullshit lies..

[slightlv]

15. Mikey's waiting for some reason until after the No Kings rallies...

he's desperately trying to make them something more than they are. He's trying to turn them around into his and trump's favor... probably to prove need for the Insurrection Act or Martial Law or something. That's my view on it. He also knows as soon as does swear in the new Democrat, all hell breaks loose for trump and the administration, and there's nothing he can do about it after that.

My only point of anger... is that while I abhor sexual abuse of any kind to any person... especially to children... that THIS is what it takes to make the left AND the right angry, wanting blood for justice. I mean, our country... our democracy... our legacy... our freedoms, rights, and civil liberties aren't enough to get everyone to do something? It has to be sexual? IMO, one of the issues that has held back this country for truly being a shining star is its hang up on the Puritans, especially where sex and work is concerned.

[Paladin]

10. Love it! (nt)

[Warpy]

13. Screw that :"threatens: horse shit, just file the suit

Johnson has refused to do his job long enough. It's time for a nasty lawsuit to get this resolved.

Turn that threat into action and stop making Democrats look like wimps.

Thank you.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

17. Johnson listens to his lard and savior Donald Trump.

[riversedge]

19. Quite the scene in the Capitol right now... Members of the Democratic Women's Caucus marched through the Capitol and to S

Mychael Schnell
@mychaelschnell
·
11h
Quite the scene in the Capitol right now…

Members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus marched through the Capitol and to Speaker Johnson’s office with Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, demanding that she be sworn in.

They have signs and chanted “swear her in” throughout the Capitol.

“Swear me in, Speaker Johnson,” Grijalva said outside Johnson’s office.

“Swear her in! Swear her in!”

#TrumpEpsteinCoverup

— The Tennessee Holler (@thetnholler.bsky.social) 2025-10-15T01:53:35.298Z

Link to tweet