Why Can't You Seat Her?' CNBC Host Grills Mike Johnson Over His Refusal to Seat Democrat Amid Lawsuit Threat

"I realize Congress is not in session, but it's been more than 3 weeks, and all the representatives in the House are being paid right now. Why can't you see her? Quick asked. Well, not all the members of the house are being paid, Johnson said. Well, some of them have chosen not to take a paycheck, they are all under law allowed to receive a paycheck, Quick shot back. She noted that Arizona's attorney general has threatened to sue Johnson for taxation without representation over his failure to swear in the state's full delegation."

"Johnson has argued that he cannot seat Grijalva until the government is reopened and Democrats agree to a continuing resolution funding deal. They are saying that this is a huge amount of politics, you're using this as leverage by not cheating them and Arizona is saying this is taxation without representation, Quick told Johnson. Yeah, I'm shocked that there's another Democrat politician from Arizona seeking publicity right now. Now the state AG is involved, Johnson said. You haven't seated their full delegation, Quick pointed out."

"She's going to sue me, I'm sure, Johnson continued. She's not going to sue you. The attorney general of Arizona is going to sue you for their people not being able to be fully represented, Quick said. No, that's who I'm referring to, I know, and she wants publicity, too, and it's all a farce. Let me tell you what's happening here. The Rep.-elect Grijalva was elected after the House went out of session. So I have said this repeatedly, I'm delighted to administer the oath to her as soon as we get back to legislative session."

House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to seat Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva following an Arizona special election victory. Johnson ties formal swearing-in to reopening the government and agreement on a continuing resolution funding deal. Some House members are receiving pay while others have chosen not to accept paychecks. Arizona's attorney general has threatened legal action alleging taxation without representation because the state's delegation is not fully seated. Johnson characterized efforts to compel immediate seating as political publicity and stated an intention to administer the oath when the House returns to legislative session.

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