Johnson told News Nation on Oct. 8 that the delay in swearing in Grijalva "has absolutely nothing to do" with Epstein.
"This is a scheduling matter," he said. "As soon as the Democrats vote to reopen the government, we will get back to the regular order and session of Congress, and that will be I'm sure among our first orders of business."
Grijalva said she is "very frustrated and more frustrated and angry every day that passes." She pointed to three other lawmakers who were sworn in within 24 hours of their special elections this year, and an entire class of lawmakers sworn in during the last shutdown.
"But for me, this Chicana from Arizona, all the rules have changed," she said.
This is the longest time any representative-elect has waited to be sworn in by Johnson. In April, Johnson held a short session in order to swear in two Florida Republicans the day after they won their special elections. He also swore in Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Virginia, on Sept. 10, the day after he won his special election.
Johnson said in an interview with News Nation that the Florida Republicans was "a unique exception" that he only made "because they flew all their family and friends in for the ceremony." When the interviewer asked if Grijalva flying in her family would get her sworn in, Johnson called the issue "a distraction."
The last day for staff working for the late congressman’s office was Sept. 19, the Friday before the special election. Grijalva said her name is on a placard outside what will be her office in Washington, DC, but she doesn’t have any keys and would need to have an escort let her into the office. She can’t hire staff.
sorry for the text/formatting on the excerpts. But pretty clear what is going on here