House Speaker Mike Johnson got into a tense confrontation with Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly on Capitol Hill on Day 8 of the government shutdown on Oct. 8, 2025. (Fox News)
Gallego retorted, "This excuse just keeps on moving."
"We're happy that she got elected. She's filling her father's seat. That's fantastic. We have a long tradition here and a process of how we administer the oath to a member," Johnson said despite the Democrats' attempts at interruption.
"We're going to do that as soon as we get back to work, but we need the lights turned back on, so we encourage both of you to go open the government."
Gallego shot back that Johnson was keeping the House out of session in a bid to delay a vote on forcing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release files on the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
"You just don't want to vote on the Epstein discharge petition," Gallego said.
Johnson called the comment "totally absurd," adding, "You guys are experts at red herrings and distraction. It has nothing to do with Epstein. The House Oversight Committee is working on the Epstein files right now."
Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva is interviewed in Tucson, Arizona, on July 15, 2025. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
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The standoff occurred just as Senate Democrats blocked the GOP's federal funding bill for a sixth time, extending the ongoing government shutdown.
The House passed a bill to extend fiscal year (FY) 2025 federal funding levels through Nov. 21 to give lawmakers more time to create a longer-term deal for FY 2026 spending.
But Democrats, furious at being sidelined in federal funding talks, have largely said they'll reject any deal that does not include an extension of the expiring ObamaCare subsidies.
Grijalva won her race on Sept. 23.
The House has not been in session since Sept. 19, and Johnson has signaled the chamber would not return until Senate Democrats agree with the GOP's funding plan.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tense-confrontation-between-house-speaker-senate-dems-caught-camera-over-shutdown