In a decisive move to counter what they see as a subversion of democracy, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva have initiated legal action against the U.S. House of Representatives. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., seeks to secure Grijalva's inauguration into Congress after her victory in the recent election. This development follows weeks of tension as the newly elected representative has yet to fill her seat due to alleged obstruction by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
"Speaker Mike Johnson is actively stripping the people of Arizona of one of their seats in Congress and disenfranchising the voters of Arizona’s seventh Congressional district in the process," Mayes stated, highlighting a constitutional concern over taxation without representation. In a statement obtained by azag.gov, the Attorney General emphasized the severity of the Speaker's actions. Despite being due to swear in, Grijalva's potential constituents have lingered without representation for over a month.
Representative-elect Grijalva is also speaking out against what she perceives as a flagrant disregard for the will of her constituents. "The voters of Southern Arizona made their choice, yet for four weeks, he has refused to seat a duly elected Member of Congress – denying Southern Arizona its constitutional representation," Grijalva told azag.gov. The legal challenge represents a united front from both Grijalva and Mayes, as they seek to confront what they consider a denial of democratic rights to over 800,000 Arizonans.
The complaint, which is publicly accessible, focuses on alleged unconstitutional acts by Speaker Johnson. It argues that by preventing Grijalva's swearing in, Johnson is not only engaging in partisan brinkmanship, but also obstructing the function of the government and the justice due to the Epstein survivors. For those interested, the full text of the complaint can be reviewed at the Attorney General's website, linked here.
