Mike Johnson Crashes Democrats’ Epstein Press Event Outside His Office

Arthur Delaney

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WASHINGTON — Tensions flared in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday when two Democratic senators held a press conference outside House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office.

Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) used the event to criticize Johnson (R-La.) over the ongoing government shutdown and his refusal to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election last month to fill her late father’s seat.

Johnson has kept the House in recess since September, aiming to pressure Senate Democrats into passing a funding bill that cleared the House largely along partisan lines. Senate Democrats have rejected the bill six times.

After discussing how delaying Grijalva’s swearing-in could slow legislation seeking the release of government files on the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, Johnson emerged from his office to confront the senators.

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“We’re happy that she got elected. She’s filling her father’s seat. That’s fantastic,” Johnson said. “We have a long tradition and a process for administering the oath. We’ll 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 help open the government.”

Kelly and Gallego are among 44 Senate Democrats refusing to back a Republican bill to fund the government into November. Republicans insist there can be no negotiations on healthcare, as Democrats demand, until the government reopens. Eight days into the shutdown, progress remains stalled.

Johnson defended the House Oversight Committee’s efforts to obtain Epstein-related documents via subpoenas, saying the process was more effective than the pending bipartisan legislation.

“You don’t need an act of Congress for that to happen,” he said.

“Why are you blocking her?” Gallego pressed.

Johnson denied blocking Grijalva’s swearing-in. “I know why you’re upset. You’re getting a lot of heat because the government’s closed down,” he added.

The confrontation escalated when Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) joined, urging the senators to support the House-passed funding bill.

“Get your people in. Stop covering up for pedophiles,” Gallego shot back.

“That’s ridiculous,” Johnson said, as the lawmakers exchanged pointed gestures. After about five minutes, an aide prompted Johnson to return to his office.

“That was fun,” Kelly muttered sarcastically.

Later, Lawler confronted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) in another hallway. The two argued publicly, with Jeffries at one point scolding Lawler: “You’re embarrassing yourself right now… So why don’t you just keep your mouth shut?”

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