Senate Democrats clash with House Speaker Mike Johnson over government shutdown and Jeffrey Epstein

WASHINGTON — Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, both Arizona Democrats, publicly sparred Wednesday with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and New York GOP Rep.

WASHINGTON — Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, both Arizona Democrats, publicly sparred Wednesday with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and New York GOP Rep. Mike Lawler over the delay in swearing in a Democrat who won a special election in Arizona last month.

"Let's be clear, the reason [Rep.-elect] Adelita Grijalva is not here is because Mike Johnson wants to do two things. Number one, cover up for pedophiles on the Epstein list," Gallego told reporters. "And number two, put his members in a really rough position when it comes to voting and extending these [Affordable Care Act] tax credits."

The Arizona senators had gathered in front of reporters outside the speaker's office in the Capitol.

"Seven-hundred-thousand people do not have representation right now," Kelly said, referring to the constituents in Grijalva's Tucson-area congressional district.

The press gaggle began with Gallego and Kelly taking questions from reporters while Lawler stood behind them. During their remarks, Johnson emerged from his office.