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This time, she was joined by Congressional Hispanic Caucus leaders as well as fellow Democrats from Arizona and around the country to press the speaker to relent.

“What’s the problem?� said Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Calif., a leader of the Hispanic caucus, flanked by Grijalva, Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and others. “Is it because she’s a Democratic Latina? That she’s going to sign the discharge petition on the Epstein files?�

The House has not been in full session since Sept. 19. Johnson has refused to swear in Grijalva until Democrats accept the House GOP spending plan to end the government shutdown.

The shutdown standoff passed the two-week mark with no end in sight.

On Tuesday, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sent a letter to Johnson threatening legal action if he fails to swear Grijalva in “without further delay.� Earlier that day, Mayes, Gov. Katie Hobbs and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes certified the Sept. 23 special election results.

Grijalva won by nearly 70% of the vote to succeed her father, 12-term Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died in March.

“Every day that I am not sworn in is another day that my constituents are blocked from critical constituent services and excluded from debates happening right now that affect their lives,� Grijalva said.

“Southern Arizona cannot afford to be sidelined,� she said.

The standoff has elevated Grijalva’s national profile far beyond the usual spotlight that shines on the least senior member of the minority party.

It has also underscored the prolonged absence of the House, now approaching a full month.

The Wednesday news conference at the Capitol marked the latest Democratic effort to shame Johnson into swearing Grijalva in.

“He is single-handedly silencing nearly 1 million Arizonans,� said Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Phoenix, accusing Johnson of ignoring the will of voters in the vast 7th Congressional District, which covers most of the state’s border with Mexico.

Last week, outside his office in a heated 6-minute exchange witnessed by news media.

Gallego accused him to his face of stalling in order to delay the release of the remaining investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The financier and convicted sex offender died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for trafficking underage girls.

“Stop covering up for the pedophiles,� Gallego told the speaker, who called the allegation “totally absurd.�

Johnson blamed Democrats for the delay, saying he was “anxious� to administer the oath “as soon as you guys vote to open the government.�

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Johnson recalled that Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., waited 25 days after a special election in 2021 to be sworn in by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“No Democrats jumped up and down and screamed about that, nor do I recall any Republicans, because everybody understood this is the process of the House. You do it as soon as you’re able to do it,� Johnson said.

Gallego reiterated the Epstein allegation at Wednesday’s news conference with Grijalva. He also cited flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla as a reason to install her quickly.

“Do you know how often Arizona gets rain?� Gallego said. “In her district, those members do not have someone to call to ask for help, because Speaker Johnson is covering up for pedophiles.�

By law, only the House speaker can administer the oath of office. While most members are sworn in en masse at the start of a Congress every two years, special election winners are sworn in individually.

Democrats point to a pair of Florida Republicans sworn in during brief pro forma sessions within 24 hours of their victories.

Johnson argues that the Floridians’ oaths had been scheduled for a regular session that ended sooner than expected, and he proceeded during a pro forma session because they had brought their families to Washington for the ceremony.

Kelly, who lives in Grijalva’s district, scoffed at the explanation. He brought four-year-old granddaughter Sage to Wednesday’s event. She sat on the ground as Kelly waited his turn to speak.

“The lame excuse he used was that their family members were in town,� Kelly said. “I’m pretty sure we can get one of (Grijalva’s) family members here, or she could borrow my granddaughter.�

Johnson has emphasized that the House has not been in full session since Grijalva’s election, though he has canceled a number of planned sessions since the shutdown started Oct. 1.

Grijalva would provide the final signature needed on a discharge petition — led by a Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky — that would compel floor action on the Epstein files.

Johnson has refused to hold such a vote, preferring to leave the matter to the House Oversight Committee. He said Tuesday that some of the delay stems from the need to protect the privacy of victims.

“You can’t just wave a wand and just open the floodgates. You have to be sure that the victims don’t suffer additional harm,� he said in response to a question from Fox News.

First-term Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Phoenix, accused him of reneging on a promise to Epstein’s victims.

“I sat in a room with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, and for hours Mike Johnson looked them in the eye. He expressed empathy, promised accountability and said, ‘we will get this done for you,’� she said. “Now he is using his power to protect the very men who enabled that abuse by keeping Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva from casting the deciding vote.�

Until she is sworn in, Grijalva cannot collect a congressional salary, move into her late father’s office, hire staff, provide constituent services — or sign the Epstein petition.

She briefly appeared on the House floor during a pro forma session on Sept. 30, hoping to be sworn in. The presiding Republican ended the session after less than three minutes despite chants of “Swear her in!� from Democrats.