Leland Vittert Corners Johnson Over Refusal To Swear In Key ‘Epstein Files’ Yes Vote

NewsNation anchor Leland Vittert cornered Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) over his refusal to swear in Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), which many regard as a way to forestall a vote on releasing the so-called Epstein Files.

Rep.-elect Grijalva won a special election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of her father, Rep. Raul Grijalva. She would also likely be the key 218th “yes” vote on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing all files related to deceased sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.

On Tuesday night’s edition of NewsNation’s On Balance with Leland Vittert, Vittert pressed Johnson about the connection and challenged the speaker’s excuse by bluntly calling him on it:

LELAND VITTERT: Democrats say you will not swear in Adelita Grijalva because you do not want her critical vote on the Epstein discharge petition. Why won’t you swear her in?

SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): They’re becoming experts at distraction and red herrings. This has absolutely nothing to do about Epstein. This is a scheduling matter. As soon as the Democrats vote to reopen the government, we will get back to the regular order and session of Congress and that will be I’m sure among our first orders of business.

LELAND VITTERT: That makes sense, until we look back and see that there have been Republicans sworn in during pro forma sessions. Why should it be different for a Democrat?

SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): There was a unique exception made when the two Florida representatives were sworn in. The only reason we did that is because they flew all their family and friends in for the ceremony

LELAND VITTERT: So if she flies in her family, would you guys do it?

SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): Again, these are distractions…

Watch above via NewsNation’s On Balance with Leland Vittert.