Late Tuesday evening, a group of House Democrats advanced toward Speaker Mike Johnson’s Capitol office, demanding he swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva and chanting “swear her in.” As they reached the hallway, police prevented entry and the scene grew heated.
Video from multiple angles shows Democrats — including Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Melanie Stansbury, and Nanette Barragán — confronting a Capitol Police officer stationed outside the speaker’s suite. Footage captures members pushing aside a sign near the door and shouting, while the officer holds his line in uniform.
Johnson later described the incident as more than a protest: “They stormed my office … they berated him [the officer], screamed at him. He was just merely standing at his post.” He called the action a political stunt and pointed to the damage caused, including signs being torn down.
The protest stems from a standoff over Grijalva’s swearing-in. Although she won her special election in September, Johnson has not yet set a date or location for her oath, prompting frustration from Democrats who say her voice is being suppressed.
House Democrats defended their actions, arguing that protest is legitimate inside the people’s House. Some questioned whether members are being unfairly restricted from expressing opinions in congressional spaces. The confrontation highlights deepening tensions on Capitol Hill as the government shutdown drags into its third week.