Arizona Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva said it was "painful" waiting for seven weeks to take the oath of office, but now the Democrat trying to focus on her new role in the House.

Washington

Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva was sworn into the 119th Congress after a 50-day delay, which she described as an injustice that prevented her from serving her constituents. Grijalva alleges that the delay, overseen by Speaker Mike Johnson, was a strategic effort to block a vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein files, though Johnson denies this and attributes the timing to House customs.

Upon taking office, Grijalva became the final signature needed to force a vote on the bipartisan measure demanding the release of all Epstein files from the Justice Department. Grijalva, who succeeds her late father Raul Grijalva, emphasized her commitment to justice for survivors and expressed readiness to work in a bipartisan manner despite differences with House leadership.

Grijalva says swearing-in delay was meant to block Epstein file release

This week, a pivotal moment on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers are expected to vote on a bipartisan measure, demanding the release of all the Jeffrey Epstein files from the Justice Department. Now, the vote comes after Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva became the final signature on the measure. CBS congressional correspondent Nicole Killian spoke with the Arizona Democrat. Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva called it an injustice and said it was painful waiting for seven weeks to take the oath of office with no way to serve her constituents. But now she's trying to turn the page and focus on her new role as a full-fledged member of the House. So help you God. I do. Congratulations, you're now a member of the 119th Congress. It was the moment Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva had been waiting for for 50 days. What does this moment mean to you? It's been 50 days of waiting for a very long time. And so the emotions run the gamut of frustration, anger, happiness, sadness. I mean, every emotion you can think of. After winning a special election in September, Grijalva's swearing in was put on hold while the House was on recess for nearly two months during the longest government shutdown in US history. You blame one person, Speaker Mike Johnson, for holding up your swearing in. Do you think this was personal? No, I don't think it was personal. I think it was strategic. I think that he was trying to prevent the release of the Epstein files. And I know that if I were a Republican, I would not have been waiting. Johnson insists that was not the case. Look, I really like this lady. She's gonna be an excellent member of Congress. She may not agree with me, but we follow the custom of the House on the timetable. Grijalva's first order of business becoming the 218th and final signature on a petition to force a vote this week on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files with survivors of the convicted sex offender looking on from the House chamber. I believe very strongly that it is about getting justice for the survivors. The freshman lawmaker succeeds her late father, Raul Grijalva, who died in March after serving more than two decades in Congress, now following in his footsteps. What do you think he would say to you? He's very proud. Good for you, Mijita, keep fighting. Don't let them push you around. Grijalva says she's ready to get to work. And despite her differences with Speaker Mike Johnson, she said she was able to have a one-on-one conversation with him and intends to work in a bipartisan fashion. Nicole Killian, CBS News, Capitol Hill.

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