‘Stop protecting pedophiles!’ Democratic Party delivers brutal putdown to Mike Johnson

The Democratic Party delivered a brutal putdown to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Saturday over his continued refusal to swear in Adelita Grijalva, despite her election victory in Arizona 40 days ago – the longest delay on record between a congressional candidate’s win and their swearing in.

Johnson has faced allegations that his hesitancy to swear Grijalva in stems from his fear of a discharge petition, a legislative tool introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) to compel the Justice Department to release files on Jeffrey Epstein. The petition remains just one signature short of having garnered enough support to force a vote on the matter, and Grijalva has pledged to support it.

“It’s been 40 days since [Grijalva] was elected by her constituents,” wrote the Democrat Party on its official X account to its more than 2.4 million followers. “Mike Johnson: Stop protecting pedophiles, swear in Adelita Grijalva, and release the Epstein files.”

Grijalva accused Johnson of delaying her swearing in to prevent a vote on Massie’s discharge petition as early as Oct. 6, and now, nearly a month later, pressure against the speaker continues to rise. Johnson has insisted he was unable to swear in Grijalva until the government re-opens, having been shut down since Oct. 1.

Johnson has also been confronted by survivors of Epstein – who died in 2019 under mysterious circumstances while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges – who last week sent him a letter calling on him to stop obstructing Grijalva’s swearing in.

“Grijalva was duly elected and certified to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives," the letter reads, signed by several Epstein survivors. "Her constituents have spoken, and their voice deserves representation without further delay. The continued refusal to seat her is an unacceptable breach of democratic norms and a disservice to the American people.”