Key Pelosi lieutenant calls on her to transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate

House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.), a top lieutenant of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), said Thursday that she should go ahead and transmit the articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate and allow a trial to begin.

Smith’s high-profile break with Pelosi came shortly before she deflected when asked by a reporter about her impasse with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Pelosi said she knows when she’ll send the articles to the Senate, adding, “I won’t be telling you right now.” Pelosi has said she first...