Pelosi defends taking impeachment trial to Senate, sticks to Biden's COVID plan
During her weekly press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended the decision to impeach then-President Donald Trump, insisting the trial set to begin on Tuesday is not a waste of time. She said she believes Republicans could be swayed to convict the former president once the evidence is presented.
She also responded to critics who say "why bother" with the Trump impeachment trial now that he's out of office.
"'Why bother?’ Ask our founders why bother. Ask those who wrote the Constitution. Ask Abraham Lincoln," Pelosi said. "Ask anyone who cares about our democracy why we are bothering. You cannot go forward until you have justice."
Pelosi pushed back when reporters noted that the House impeachment managers are walking into a Senate that is poised to acquit Trump.
"They don't know that. They don't know that. They haven't heard the case," Pelosi said. "We'll see if it will be a Senate of courage or cowardice."
On COVID-19 relief, Pelosi defended the price tag of the $1.9 trillion plan Biden is pushing for. She signaled she's not going to support the GOP slimmed down rescue package offer of $600 billion.
"Are we going to feed fewer children?" Pelosi said. "I just don't see how you have to make those choices on who you cut out when you decide to cut the funding."
Pelosi also said Congress can take up a bill raising the minimum wage to $15 in bills other than the COVID-19 relief bill if it doesn't pass muster with the Byrd rule during the reconciliation process. The Byrd Rule ensures other legislation not related to the budget doesn't make it into the final bill.
"It’s not the last bill we’ll pass. This is the rescue package," Pelosi said.
-ABC News' Mariam Khan