Mike Johnson Runs from Reporters Over Dem Swearing-In Question — Gets Slammed as ‘Pathetic’

Mike Johnson
Mike Johnson Photo by FMT licensed under CC BY 4.0.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is facing intense criticism after abruptly walking away from reporters on Tuesday when asked a simple question: When will Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) be sworn in?

The exchange, caught on video, quickly went viral—and it wasn’t flattering. Confronted with a straightforward question about seating a duly elected member of Congress, Johnson turned and walked off without a word. His silence spoke volumes, and the public backlash came fast.

Grijalva, who recently won a special election to fill the seat left vacant by her late father, longtime Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva, still hasn’t been sworn in. The unexplained delay has raised serious concerns—especially as Arizona’s 7th District remains unrepresented during a government shutdown.

Grijalva suspects the delay might not be coincidental.

She pointed to Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) ongoing push to unseal files connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network. “There’s a discharge petition to release those documents,” Grijalva said, hinting that Johnson may be keeping her out of Congress to stop her from signing it. “I think that’s possible.”

Democrats have unleashed a wave of outrage.

“Pathetic,” wrote California Gov. Gavin Newsom on X (formerly Twitter).

“Your daily reminder that Republicans are doing everything they can to cover up the Epstein files,” added Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO).

Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United, didn’t hold back either: “Mike Johnson is flat-out denying #AZ07 voters their representation. Why? To hide the Epstein files and protect powerful predators. Shame on him,” she said.

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) went even further: “.@HouseGOP is keeping the government shut down to protect pedophiles.”

With no legal or procedural reason to block Grijalva’s swearing-in, the Speaker’s silence is only deepening suspicion.

Nick Frisone of California’s 46th District Democratic Central Committee suggested legal action: “Rep.-elect Grijalva should consider filing a lawsuit—or one of her constituents should—since they’re being denied their right to representation.”

And Johnson’s attempt to dodge reporters may have only intensified the backlash.

“He can’t keep doing this if people refuse to stay quiet about the Epstein files. KEEP PUSHING,” urged political commentator Amee Vanderpool.

For now, Speaker Johnson hasn’t offered an explanation, and Grijalva remains waiting. But as public anger builds, one theory is gaining traction: the hold-up isn’t political theater—it’s about the Epstein files.