House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was hit with a stern legal threat from Arizona's attorney general for stalling a Democrat's swearing-in amid the government shutdown.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes on Tuesday threatened legal action and accused Johnson of dragging his feet on seating Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, Politico reports.
“Arizona’s right to a full delegation, and the right of the residents of CD 7 to representation from the person they recently voted for, are not up for debate and may not be delayed or used as leverage in negotiations about unrelated legislation,” Mayes writes in the letter.
Mayes, a Democrat, indicates that Johnson and Republicans are “trying to use Arizona’s constitutional right to representation in the House as a bargaining chip” and that her office would explore “every option open to us, including litigation."
Grijalva, who is the daughter of longtime late Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died after battling cancer, won the race in late September to succeed him. Her victory has further narrowed the gap for the Republican majority in the House.
Democrats have argued that Johnson and other GOP leaders are continuing the government shutdown to avoid a vote to release files in the investigation of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Grijalva would be the final vote to force the legislation to begin.