Dem 'Misspoke,' Backs Pelosi on Impeachment Delay

House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith is walking back his comments earlier Thursday that called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to send the impeachment articles to the Senate and allow a trial to begin.

“I misspoke this morning, I do believe we should do everything we can to force the Senate to have a fair trial,” the Washington Democrat said on Twitter. “If the speaker believes that holding on to the articles for a longer time will help force a fair trial in the Senate, then I wholeheartedly support that decision.”

Earlier Thursday, Smith said on CNN that it was time to send the articles to the Senate and let Majority Leader Mitch McConnell “be responsible for the fairness of the trial.”

Pelosi has faced calls from several Senate Democrats to end the delay. She has said she’s waiting to send the articles until she sees the Senate’s planned trial procedures. Senate Democrats Dianne Feinstein of California and Chris Murphy of Connecticut are among those who have said it’s time to start the trial.

McConnell, on the Senate floor Thursday morning, again hammered Pelosi for withholding the articles.

”If the speaker continues to refuse to take her own accusations to trial, the Senate will move forward next week with the business of the people,” McConnell said, possibly including the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.