Arizona Democratic senators clashed Wednesday with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Mike Lawler over the government shutdown and releasing files regarding the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly confronted the GOP congressmen outside the speaker’s office, where they had staged a surprise press gaggle, NBC News reported. The senators highlighted the fact that an Arizona congresswoman-elect has yet to be sworn in amid a battle over forcing a vote to release Epstein files.
“Let’s be clear, the reason [Rep.-elect] Adelita Grijalva is not here is because Mike Johnson wants to do two things. Number one, cover up for pedophiles on the Epstein list,” Gallego told reporters. “And number two, put his members in a really rough position when it comes to voting and extending these [Affordable Care Act] tax credits.”
Referring to the constituents in Grijalva’s congressional district, Kelly said, “700,000 people do not have representation right now.”
As Gallego and Kelly spoke with reporters, Johnson exited his office.
“Hey, gentlemen,” Johnson said, “Appreciate it, good to see y’all.”
Gallego and Kelly told Johnson they were hoping that Grijalva would be sworn in soon.
“Yeah, reopen the government so we can get back to work,” Johnson told them.
Senate Democrats have voted against the GOP funding bill six times, which would fund the government through Nov. 21, while Republicans have voted down the Democrats’ bill that would fund the government at previous levels through Oct. 31, as well as restore Medicaid cuts and extend certain Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year.
Johnson told Gallego and Kelly that the only reason for the delay in swearing in Grijalva is that the government is shut down.
“We’re happy that she got elected,” the speaker told the senators, noting that she won the seat held by her late father, Rep. Raul Grijalva, who died in March.
“We have a long tradition here, and a process, of how we administer the oath to the member,” Johnson said. “We’re going to do that as soon as we get back to work. But we need the lights turned back on, so we encourage both of you to go open the government.”
Gallego asked Johnson if the delay for swearing in Grijalva was because she would be the 218th signature on a discharge petition that would force a floor vote on a bill directing the Justice Department to release all files related to Epstein.
“That’s totally absurd. You guys are experts at red herrings and distractions. It has nothing to do with Epstein,” Johnson told the senators.
“You just keep coming up with excuses,” Gallego responded.
The two talked over each other until Johnson looked at the reporters and said, “This is a publicity stunt.”
Kelly said that the congressmen were on “an extended summer vacation,” and Johnson responded that the House “did its job” by passing the funding bill in September.
Lawler, who was also there, eventually jumped in, telling the senators, “With all due respect, you voted multiple times to keep the government shut down. Okay? The Republican members from Arizona voted to keep the government open. So don’t sit here and try to lecture us about whether or not we did our job. We did our job. You did not.”
The Democratic senators then accused the House Republicans of “covering up for pedophiles,” with Johnson and Lawler calling their comments “ridiculous.”
