Speaker Mike Johnson stated on October 8th, 2025, that Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva will be sworn in once the government is reopened, deflecting accusations that her delayed swearing-in is tied to her potential vote on the Epstein files discharge petition. Johnson made these remarks during an impromptu exchange with Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly around 5:10 PM UTC, asserting that the matter is a scheduling issue unrelated to Epstein and that exceptions for swearing in Representatives Fine and Petronis previously were due to families traveling for the ceremony. During the exchange, which occurred between approximately 5:10 PM and 5:37 PM UTC, Johnson also stated "this has nothing to do with Epstein" and that "They're becoming experts at distraction and red herrings." He reiterated that "regular order and session of Congress" would resume upon reopening the government, with Grijalva's swearing-in likely among the first orders of business. Senator Kelly remarked "Well that was fun" at the conclusion of the encounter. Separately, Governor Kristi Noem praised President Trump for efforts to prevent drug trafficking, stating that "drug traffickers and narco-trafficking boats will no longer be allowed to transport deadly drugs into American territory." In other developments within the reporting window, House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled opposition to moving a stand-alone bill to pay military service members during the ongoing government shutdown, contradicting a previous statement indicating openness to such a vote. This comes as former FBI Director James Comey's prosecution faces challenges, with a central witness's testimony reportedly undermining the prosecution's allegations, according to a report from ABC News shared by @michaeldweiss. The Pentagon also announced it has loosened new press restrictions following negotiations with national news organizations, a move the Pentagon Press Association had previously described as "designed to stifle a free press."
