House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) got brutally fact-checked by ABC’s Jon Karl over what Johnson called “the Pelosi precedent” for delaying to swear in an elected Democratic lawmaker.
Karl asked Sunday when Johnson was going to finally swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), who was overwhelmingly elected by her constituents weeks ago to fill her late-father’s congressional seat.
“As soon as we get back to legislative session, when Chuck Schumer allows us to turn the lights back on,” Johnson answered, referring to the government shutdown over the issue of expanding health care benefits in the stalled continuing resolution.
“Why haven’t you done it already?” Karl asked.
“Because this is the way the institution works…I’m following the Pelosi precedent, by the way. When my dear friend from Louisiana, Julia Letlow, was elected to fill the seat of her deceased husband because of COVID, Nancy Pelosi took 25 days to swear her in.”
Karl promptly pushed back — and got Johnson to retreat.
KARL: Are you saying that Nancy Pelosi refused to swear her in earlier?JOHNSON: No, I’m saying — that’s — my very point is, this is the normal process —KARL: Because my understanding is, that was the date that actually the representative-elect, Letlow, at the time, requested.JOHNSON: No. OK, here’s some more examples, OK.KARL: No, no, but wait a minute, you mentioned “
the Pelosi precedent.” But Pelosi didn’t delay that. She — she gave the date that —JOHNSON: No, no, let me give you more of the Pelosi precedent, OK?KARL: And what about the Johnson precedent? I mean, you swore in two Republicans the day after their election.JOHNSON: I’m happy to answer. I’m happy to answer. Pelosi precedent: Pat Ryan, Joe Sempolinski. They were elected during an August recess. So, 21 days later, when the House returned to regular legislative session, they were administered the oath. That’s what we’re doing. We’re not in session right now. Rep. Grijalva was elected after the House was out of session. As soon as we return to legislative session, as soon as the Democrats decide to turn the lights back on so we can all get back here, I will administer the oath of —KARL: You could swear her in tomorrow, right? I mean —JOHNSON: No, not tomorrow. No, we — we couldn’t. We wouldn’t. There was an exception for two Floridians earlier in this Congress. But the reason was, they were duly elected. They had a date set. They flew in all their friends and family and the House went out of session unexpectedly.KARL: So — so, if she flies in friends and family, then you would —JOHNSON: We don’t have a date set. She was elected after we went out of session.
Grijalva believes Johnson is “stalling”
Watch the clip above via ABC News.