Rep. Bradley Byrne Bradley Roberts ByrneBottom line Jerry Carl wins GOP Alabama runoff to replace Rep. Bradley Byrne Jeff Sessions loses comeback bid in Alabama runoff MORE (R-Ala.) introduced a resolution on Thursday to censure Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Overnight Defense: Top admiral says 'no condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' | Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Pelosi must go — the House is in dire need of new leadership MORE (D-Calif.) for not sending the two articles of impeachment that passed the House in December to the Senate.

“Speaker Pelosi’s decision to hold the articles of impeachment against President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE in a pathetic and unconstitutional attempt to extract concessions from the Senate is an unprecedented abuse of power,” Byrne said in a statement.

Pelosi has withheld the articles and demanded that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (R-Ky.) negotiate terms of a Senate trial. Democrats want to be able to call witnesses at the trial. McConnell has said the Senate could vote on hearing from witnesses, but only after the articles of impeachment are sent to the Senate from the House, and after a trial begins.

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The Speaker on Thursday said she would not be holding the articles indefinitely and that she would probably send them soon, while expressing frustration with McConnell for not agreeing to witnesses.

“The Constitution grants the House the power to censure its members, the most serious rebuke the House can give a member short of expulsion," he said. "An adopted censure resolution would require the offending member to stand in the well of the House and have the resolution read aloud. The last censure resolution adopted by the House occurred in 2010.”

The censure formally condemning Pelosi is not expected to see movement in the Democratic-controlled lower chamber.