U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, who represents Washington’s 7th district in Congress, posted a series of tweets on October 8, 2025, addressing actions by federal agencies in Chicago and criticizing House Speaker Johnson for ongoing congressional gridlock.
In her first tweet at 13:24 UTC, Jayapal wrote: “ICE and DHS officials are terrorizing Chicago. Pulling children from their beds in the middle of the night, naked. Shooting people in broad daylight and throwing tear gas on busy streets. Johnson and Pritzker are protecting their constituents.”
Later that day at 14:52 UTC, she commented on House proceedings: “Speaker Johnson is keeping the House SHUT DOWN so he won’t have to swear in Rep.-elect @AdelitaForAZ who won her election 2 weeks ago. She’ll be the final needed signature on the bipartisan discharge petition that demands release of ALL Epstein files. What are you so afraid of?”
At 15:18 UTC, Jayapal continued to criticize Republican leadership amid a government shutdown: “A reminder on the 8th day of this Republican shutdown: Speaker Johnson could call Members back to negotiate to re-open the government any time he wants. He’s choosing not to. Republicans would rather raise costs and kick millions of Americans off their health care.”
Pramila Jayapal has served as a member of Congress since 2017 after replacing Jim McDermott and previously held office in the Washington State Senate from 2014 to 2016. Born in Chennai in 1965, she currently resides in Seattle. Jayapal holds degrees from Georgetown University (1986) and Northwestern University (1990).
