Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday accused Senate Republicans of trying to get away with the murder of George Floyd, just one day after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set a date to vote on the GOP’s police reform legislation.
In an interview with CBS News Radio, Pelosi attacked Republicans, saying they are responsible for Floyd’s death.
LISTEN:
“The press has given them so much play for this unsalvageable piece of legislation and then say, ‘well, can’t you compromise with that?’ No, it’s because it is no and we are yes,” Pelosi said of Senate Republicans’ proposed police reform leigislation.
“So when they admit that and have some suggestions that are worthy of consideration, but so far they were trying to get away with murder, actually. The murder of George Floyd,” Pelosi added.
The comments come one day after McConnell filed cloture on the Republican police reform legislation, setting an official date for the vote.
McConnell said the Senate will vote on the GOP’s police reform bill, which will need 60 votes in order to pass. Republicans would need seven or more Democrats to vote with them in order for the legislation to advance. Senate Republicans released their police reform legislation Wednesday in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing protests.
“The only group left in Washington D.C. that are reportedly agonizing over whether to block a discussion of police reform or let it proceed seem to be our Senate Democratic colleagues,” McConnell said on the Senate floor Monday. “I hope that whatever strange political calculations are making this difficult for our friends across the aisle will yield to common sense and to the American people’s hunger for progress. We will find out when we vote later this week.”
Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and McConnell introduced the legislation in a press conference.
The legislation will include a “notification act so that we can understand and appreciate the 30,000 plus no-knocks that happen around the country to see where they’re happening so we have more information,” Scott said. It is supposed to include anti-lynching legislation that was stalled by Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul in the Senate. The legislation also calls for more funding for body cameras. (RELATED: Sen. Tim Scott Lays Out What He Expects In GOP Police Reform Legislation)
McConnell appointed Scott to lead the party’s effort in passing a police overhaul bill before July 4. The South Carolina senator has ruled out including a revision to qualified immunity — a key measure supported by Democrats and others. (RELATED: Sen. Tim Scott Fires Back At Those Calling Him A ‘Token’ For Drafting GOP Police Reform Legislation)
The group of Republican senators who worked on the bill includes Scott’s fellow South Carolina senator, Lindsay Graham, as well as Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, Texas Sen. John Cornyn and West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito.
(THIS STORY IS DEVELOPING AND MORE INFORMATION WILL BE ADDED WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE)