Lesbian Attorney General Kris Mayes of Arizona (D) says U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is playing “political games” by delaying the swearing-in ceremony of a newly elected member, and she’s prepared to sue the House leader to have her seated.

In a letter to Johnson, Mayes accused him of violating the Constitution by unnecessarily delaying Democrat Adelita Grijalva’s swearing-in, Politico reports.

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“Arizona’s right to a full delegation, and the right of the residents of [Congressional District] 7 to representation from the person they recently voted for, are not up for debate and may not be delayed or used as leverage in negotiations about unrelated legislation,” Mayes wrote.

Dems have accused Johnson and the GOP of stalling to prevent Grijalva from being the final signatory on an effort to force a vote on legislation related to releasing the so-called “Epstein files.” The files relate to potential high-profile clients of now-deceased convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

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Grivalja won a special election last month in the deep-blue Congressional District in Arizona represented by her late father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva.

Johnson has lately maintained that the newly elected rep will be sworn in when the House is back in session, after earlier telling the press that Grivalja could be sworn in “as soon as she wants.”

With the government shut down since October 1, Johnson is using the occasion to keep the House out of session and the Democratic caucus at least one member short of the 217 votes needed to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.

Right now, Democrats have three vacancies in the House, including Grijalva’s father, Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX), who died in March; and an open seat left by Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), who resigned in July. The current party breakdown in the House stands at 219 Republicans, 213 Democrats. 

Mayes said her office was keeping “every option open to us, including litigation,” to hold Johnson accountable and ensure Grijalva is sworn in promptly.

Johnson responded, saying, “As I have said repeatedly, the House will follow customary practice by swearing in Rep-elect Grijalva when the House is in legislative session.”

What Johnson has called both customary and “standard practice,” however, is selective.

Democrats have been quick to point out Johnson swore in two Republicans this year when the House was not in session for legislative business.

In her letter, Mayes said the double standard amounted to “trying to use Arizona’s constitutional right to representation in the House as a bargaining chip.”

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