Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes on Tuesday threatened to take U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to court over delays in swearing in Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat recently elected in a special election.
In a Sept. 23 special election, Grijalva was elected with nearly 70% of the vote to the southern Arizona-based seat that was long held by her late father, Raul Grijalva. Her victory meant that House Republicans would see their already thin majority further shrink to 219-214. However, Johnson has yet to swear in Grijalva, despite her clear victory.
"Failing to seat Ms. Grijalva immediately or to otherwise provide a reasonable explanation as to when she will be seated will prompt legal action," Mayes wrote in her letter to Johnson. "The House of Representatives' uniquely democratic function makes frustrating the will of the voters in selecting their representative particularly egregious."
Johnson has kept the House in recess since the government shutdown last week to pressure Democrats to agree to a temporary funding measure. He has previously said he will swear in Grijalva after the government reopens.
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