Adelita Grijalva and Arizona asked a federal court on Tuesday to allow someone else to administer her oath to be the state’s 7th District representative since Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to do so, nearly a month after she won a special election.
While federal law states that the speaker administers the oath of office to House members, the lawsuit contends that power does not allow Johnson to delay a member from taking office when there is no dispute about their election or qualifications.
“By withholding the oath and the office that comes with it, the Speaker has unlawfully interfered with Ms. Grijalva’s constitutional right to take office, and the State’s right to the number of Representatives provided for by law,” the lawsuit states.
