Arizona’s Democratic attorney general is suing Speaker Mike Johnson over the timing of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva’s swearing-in—because when in doubt, file a lawsuit and ask the cameras to roll. Kris Mayes claims Johnson is “disenfranchising” voters in Arizona’s 7th District and even tossed in “taxation without representation” for dramatic effect. Subtle.

Johnson isn’t buying it. He called the suit “patently absurd,” noting that the House isn’t in session and that leadership is following precedent. In fact, he pointed to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi waiting 25 days to swear in Rep. Julia Letlow in 2021 after Letlow won a special election—same House, same book of rules. “We run the House. She has no jurisdiction. We’re following the precedent,” Johnson said, adding that the AG seems to be chasing “national publicity.” Ouch.

Here’s the backdrop: Grijalva won a special election on September 23 to replace her late father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva. Johnson has said she’ll be sworn in when the House returns to regular session. When is that? The GOP is holding the line while Senate Democrats—led by Chuck Schumer—refuse the Republican plan to fund the government through November 21. Schumer and friends have blocked the bill 11 times, keeping the shutdown alive for 21 days and counting. But please, tell us more about “disenfranchisement.”

House Democrats are shouting “politics,” with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blaming Republicans for being “on vacation” and for not swearing in Grijalva “for four consecutive weeks.” Johnson’s response: the House wasn’t in session when she won, and he’ll administer the oath on the first day back. He even tossed a little advice Grijalva’s way—maybe swap the TikTok videos for constituent service. Sarcasm noted.

There’s another layer: Grijalva’s signature is expected to be the deciding one on a discharge petition to force a House-wide vote to release Jeffrey Epstein documents held by the DOJ. Democrats frame this as transparency; House GOP leaders say it’s political theater given the chamber’s ongoing investigation and transparency procedures already in motion. Johnson has signaled he wouldn’t block the measure if it reaches the floor once Grijalva is sworn in—because, again, rules and process still matter.

Bottom line: Democrats want a courtroom shortcut; Johnson is sticking to precedent and session rules. When the House gavels back in, Grijalva gets sworn, the work continues, and—imagine this—the focus can return to funding the government. Sounds like progress, and I’ll take progress every time.