New lawmaker not seated during recess; Epstein files effort stuck at 217 signatures

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00:00House Republicans opened a brief pro forma session Tuesday but did not swear in Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva.

00:07The Arizona Democrat won a special election to succeed her late father.

00:13Representative Morgan Griffith adjourned the House.

00:16Democrats on the floor shouted, swear her in, Mediaite reported.

00:21Grijalva said there's no reason she could not take the oath now.

00:24Speaker Mike Johnson's office said she will be sworn in when the House reconvenes next Tuesday.

00:29Calling it standard practice, according to the Hill.

00:32Democrats note the clerk already has Arizona's notification naming Grijalva the unofficial winner.

00:39Paperwork, they say, has been sufficient before.

00:42And point to two Florida Republicans who were sworn in during a pro forma session earlier this year.

00:48The delay does not change shutdown math.

00:51Republicans still hold 219 seats to Democrats 213.

00:55That's what the Hill reported.

00:57Why it matters comes next.

00:58Once sworn in, Grijalva has pledged to sign a discharge petition to force a vote on a bipartisan bill to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.

01:07The petition stands at 217 signatures, one short of forcing a vote, according to the Hill and Politico.

01:14GOP leaders argue the measure lacks strong victim protections and point to an ongoing House Oversight Committee probe.

01:21Next date to watch, Tuesday, October 7th, when House leaders say the swearing-in will occur.

01:27For more unbiased updates, download the Straight Arrow News app or go to san.com.