Mike Johnson Demonstrates That Swearing In a Rep Doesn't Require 50 Days.

House Speaker Mike Johnson officially administered the oath to Matt Van Epps on Thursday morning, less than 48 hours after Van Epps secured victory in the special election for Tennessee's 7th congressional district.

The rapid swearing-in of the Republican congressman contrasts sharply with Johnsons previous delay in administering the oath to Democrat Adelita Grijalva. Grijalva, who won a special election for Arizona's 7th district on September 23 following the passing of her father, Representative Ral Grijalva, was not sworn in until November 12nearly seven weeks later.

Johnson had initially resisted swearing in Grijalva, citing the government shutdown at the start of October as a reason to postpone. Analysts noted that the delay likely related to her potential role in a key House vote concerning the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Author: Ethan Caldwell