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Pelosi feels the pressure to pass on impeachment articles

Shortly before Christmas, the Democrats in the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to approve two Articles of Impeachment against Donald Trump. But Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, has failed to send the articles to the Senate for an impeachment trial.

Pelosi said she believes the Republican-controlled Senate will not hold a fair trial. “We need to see the arena in which we are sending our [impeachment] managers. Is that too much to ask?” Pelosi said.

But even Pelosi’s fellow Democrats are growing impatient with her lack of action, saying there is no good reason for the delay.

“I understand what the speaker is trying to do, basically trying to use the leverage of that to work with Democratic and Republican senators to try to get a reasonable trial—a trial that would actually show evidence and bring out witnesses. But at the end of the day, just like we control it in the House, Mitch McConnell controls it in the Senate,” Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington state, told CNN on Thursday. “I think it was perfectly advisable for the speaker to try to leverage that to get a better deal…at this point, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. I think it is time to send the impeachment to the Senate and let Mitch McConnell be responsible for the fairness of the trial.”

The House voted to impeach Trump on charges that he obstructed Congress and abused his power. However, Trump cannot be removed from office without a trial in the Senate, and at least 60 Senators must vote for his removal.