Additional Coverage:
Capitol Hill Erupts as Speaker Johnson Clashes with Democratic Senators Amid Shutdown
A heated confrontation unfolded on Capitol Hill Wednesday as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) engaged in a tense exchange with two Democratic senators, Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), outside his office. The dispute, occurring on the eighth day of a government shutdown, centered on the delayed swearing-in of a newly elected representative and accusations regarding the release of sensitive government documents.
Senators Gallego and Kelly had initially gathered reporters to publicly pressure Speaker Johnson to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who won a special election last month to fill her late father’s congressional seat. Speaker Johnson unexpectedly joined the media availability, catching the Democrats by surprise.
Responding to Gallego’s inquiry about Grijalva’s swearing-in, Speaker Johnson stated, “Reopen the government so we can get back to work.” He reiterated, “We’re happy that she got elected.
She’s filling her father’s seat. That’s fantastic.
We have a long tradition here and a process of how we administer the oath to a member. 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.”
Senator Gallego quickly retorted, “This excuse just keeps on moving.” He then accused Speaker Johnson of intentionally keeping the House out of session to delay a vote on a discharge petition aimed at forcing the Department of Justice to release files pertaining to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. “You just don’t want to vote on the Epstein discharge petition,” Gallego charged.
Speaker Johnson vehemently denied the accusation, calling the comment “totally absurd.” He added, “You guys are experts at red herrings and distraction.
It has nothing to do with Epstein. The House Oversight Committee is working on the Epstein files right now.”
When Gallego pressed further, Johnson dismissed the senators’ actions as a “publicity stunt,” explaining that the House Oversight Committee was diligently working on the Epstein files. “I’m not blocking her,” Johnson affirmed regarding Grijalva.
The confrontation escalated when Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) joined the fray, addressing the Democratic senators directly.
“With all due respect, you voted multiple times to keep the government shut down, OK? The Republican members from Arizona voted to keep government open.
So don’t sit here and try to lecture us about whether or not we did our job. We did our jobs.
You did not,” Lawler asserted. The exchange grew more heated, with Gallego stating, “Get your people in and stop covering up for the pedophiles.”
Lawler sharply responded, “There’s nobody covering up for pedophiles, so knock it the hell off.”
Throughout the heated discussion, Senator Kelly interjected multiple times, emphasizing that Democrats were fighting to extend enhanced ObamaCare subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year without congressional action.
The standoff occurred as Senate Democrats, for the sixth time, blocked the GOP’s federal funding bill, further extending the ongoing government shutdown. The House had previously passed a bill to extend fiscal year 2025 federal funding levels through November 21, aiming to provide lawmakers with more time to craft a longer-term deal for fiscal year 2026 spending. However, Democrats, frustrated at being sidelined in funding talks, have largely stated they will reject any deal that does not include an extension of the expiring ObamaCare subsidies.
Rep.-elect Grijalva secured her victory on September 23. The House of Representatives has not been in session since September 19, and Speaker Johnson has signaled that the chamber will not reconvene until Senate Democrats agree to the Republican funding plan, leaving Grijalva’s swearing-in in a state of limbo.