“Reopen the government so we can get back to work,” Johnson told the senators. <\/p>\n

Gallego responded by saying the “excuse just keeps on moving.”<\/p>\n

“We’re happy that she got elected. She’s filing her father’s seat, that’s fantastic,” the speaker said. “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.” <\/p>\n

Grijalva said in a video<\/a> earlier on Wednesday morning that Johnson is making “excuses” for why he can’t swear her in, arguing that the speaker said he would swear her in “whenever she wants” but then walked it back.<\/p>\n

When Kelly mentioned Reps. Randy Fine (R-FL) and Jimmy Patronis (R-FL), who were sworn in on April 2<\/a> after winning on April 1, Johnson said there was an “exception” because their families were in Washington and the pair had a scheduled oath of office day, but the House was called out of session. Grijalva, he said, was elected after the House was already out of session.<\/p>\n

The conversation outside the speaker’s office grew more tense when the senators accused Johnson of having an ulterior motive for preventing Grijlava from joining Congress. Though her swearing-in would not affect the margins in the House (Johnson still has a two-seat majority), Democrats have accused the speaker of stalling to avoid Grijalva becoming the 218th signature on the discharge petition for a bill to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.<\/p>\n

“You guys just don’t want her to be on the Epstein discharge petition. …This is an excuse so that she doesn’t sign onto that,” Gallego accused the speaker. <\/p>\n

“That’s totally absurd. You guys are experts at red herrings and distractions. …There’s nothing to do with Epstein,” Johnson said.<\/p>\n

When the senators interrupted him, Johnson said, “If you want me to answer the question, if you ask a question, let me answer it.” <\/p>\n

“This is a publicity stunt,” the speaker told reporters<\/a>, insisting he is not “blocking her” from joining the House.<\/p>\n

At one point, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) jumped into the conversation when the senators accused Johnson of “covering up for pedophiles.” <\/p>\n

“Nobody’s covering for pedophiles, so knock it the hell off,” Lawler said.<\/p>\n

The exchange between the Democrats and Republicans comes as tensions continue<\/a> to rise on Capitol Hill. The government is in its eighth day of the shutdown, and as the exchange between Johnson, Lawler, and the senators indicates, parties appear to be no closer on a deal to reopen.<\/p>\n

JOHNSON SAYS EPSTEIN FILES HAVE ‘NOTHING TO DO’ WITH NOT SWEARING IN GRIJALVA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

House Republicans are insistent that they have done their job by passing a continuing resolution to fund the government until Nov. 21, claiming Democrats are the ones holding funding hostage over Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring at the end of the year.<\/p>\n

But Democrats argue they are here to work while Republicans are “on vacation.” Johnson opted not to bring the House back this week, despite previously indicating he would, after it was clear the Senate was no closer to passing the GOP’s CR. It’s failed six times on the Senate floor as of Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n