Mexican-American Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva was officially sworn in Wednesday as a member of the lower house of the U.S. Congress after a blockade sponsored by Republican leaders since September 23, and announced that she will cast the key vote to move forward with the Jeffrey Epstein case.
During her speech to take the oath of office, the congresswoman assured that, out of commitment to justice, she will immediately sign the petition “to release the Epstein case files.”
Adelita Grijalva’s swearing-in comes 51 days later
Congratulations to Rep. Adelita Grijalva on her swearing in!
Proud to welcome her to Congress and even prouder that her very first act is signing on as the 218th signature to the Epstein discharge petition. pic.twitter.com/lmURzu8iJG
– Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) November 12, 2025
The new Arizona legislator added that it is necessary to “fight for our immigrant communities and for veterans”.
Adelita Grijalva comes to office after winning the special election held on September 23 in Arizona’s 7th District, defeating Republican Daniel Butierez.
The elections were called to fill the vacant seat left by his father, veteran Democrat Raúl Grijalva, who died of cancer in March.
Adelita Grijalva described herself as“the first Chicana” to reach Congress and assured that “she will not be the last,” in a call for the participation of women of Hispanic origin in U.S. politics.
During the ceremony, Adelita Grijalva was accompanied by two survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, who gave her and the rest of the chamber a standing ovation after taking the oath of office.
Her arrival in Congress was delayed for 51 days due to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to swear her in citing administrative reasons related to the partial government shutdown.
The swearing-in coincides with the release by the Democratic Party of emails, in which Jeffrey Epstein claimed that President Donald Trump was aware of his crimes and that he “spent hours” with one of his victims.
Trump has reacted by accusing Democrats of trying to “revive the Epstein hoax” and claimed it was a strategy to divert attention from the party’s performance in the federal government shutdown.
Filed under: Swearing in of Adelita Grijalva
With information from EFE
