By Ben Meiselas
I just sat down with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes moments after she filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. House of Representatives. Let’s just step back for a moment before I dive in. The top law enforcement officer of a U.S. state had to sue the United States House of Representatives over Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to seat a duly elected member of Congress, Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva. And to make things worse, his actions are likely tied to the fact that Grijalva would be the 218th vote on a discharge petition to force a vote to release the Epstein Files.
Not only is MAGA Mike obstructing democracy. It appears he is doing so to protect a notorious pedophile with deep ties to Donald Trump.
“This is taxation without representation,” Mayes told me bluntly. “That’s why today, alongside Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva, we sued the House of Representatives.”
Mayes filed the lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., on behalf of both the State of Arizona and Grijalva, who won Arizona’s 7th Congressional District nearly a month ago. Her victory was decisive—more than 70 percent of the vote—but Speaker Johnson has refused to swear her in, keeping over 800,000 Arizonans effectively voiceless in Congress.
The lawsuit names the House of Representatives and the Sergeant at Arms in his official capacity, as Johnson’s proxy. Its central claim is simple but profound: the Constitution provides no authority—none—for the Speaker to deny a duly elected representative her seat. “If the Speaker were granted that authority,” the complaint argues, “he could thwart the people’s choice of who should represent them in Congress by denying them representation for a significant portion of their term.”
Mayes explained that she and Grijalva had given Johnson multiple opportunities to avoid litigation. “We didn’t want to have to sue,” she said. “It’s a terrible look for the House as a body. But he ignored every warning.”
When I asked why she believed Johnson was refusing to act, Mayes didn’t mince words: “There’s no legitimate reason. Except, of course, that she said she would be the last vote needed to release the Epstein files. That may be a political reason, but it’s not a constitutional one.”
This crisis, she added, isn’t just about politics—it’s about precedent. “It’s been four weeks since she was elected, and her constituents are suffering,” Mayes said. “She can’t help veterans. She can’t help with Social Security. She can’t even get an official email address.”
Grijalva herself spoke earlier in the day at a press conference, describing the bizarre reality of being a representative-elect who cannot represent. “812,000 Arizonans do not have representation in Congress,” she said. “I don’t even have a budget or the ability to open a district office.”
Johnson, for his part, has claimed there’s “no strategy” behind his decision to keep the House closed and Grijalva unseated. But as Mayes pointed out, that claim collapses under scrutiny. “This is the same Speaker who swore in Republican members immediately under identical circumstances,” she said. “He’s lying to the American people.”
Mayes and Grijalva are now asking the federal court to issue a declaratory judgment allowing a judge, or even a notary, to administer the oath if Johnson refuses to do his duty. “We fought a revolution over this,” Mayes said, invoking the founding principle that representation in government is not optional. “It’s outrageous that we have to fight it again.”
As we concluded the interview, Mayes emphasized that this fight transcends party lines. “Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, or independent, no one should be denied representation,” she told me. “We have Arizonans who are being actively harmed because Mike Johnson wants to play politics. That’s not okay. And we’re going to fight as hard as we can to put an end to it.”
This isn’t just about one seat in Congress. It’s about whether democracy still functions when one man decides the people’s voice doesn’t matter.
And now, that question is before a federal judge.
MAGA Mike: you’ve been served.
Watch my interview with the attorney general above. Remember to add the MeidasTouch Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts, like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Like, share, and subscribe to support our reporting.
