House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) defended the appropriateness of comedian Stephen Colbert's testimony on Friday before a House panel.

Pelosi praised the Comedy Central personality's appearance before a House Judiciary subcommittee to speak about the plight of migrant workers in the U.S.

"Of course I think it's appropriate," Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol about the appearance, in video posted by ABC News. "He's an American, right? He comes before the committee, has a point of view, he can bring attention to an important issue like immigration."

"I think it's great," she added.

Not all lawmakers were as enthusiastic about Colbert's appearance as the speaker was. Republicans had questioned whether or not it was appropriate for a comedian to testify on migrant workers' rights, and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the chairman of the entire Judiciary Committee, asked Colbert to excuse himself. (Conyers later withdrew his request.)

Much of Colbert's testimony was in jest, including his opening statement, which veered well off course into a comedic monologue. He did break character toward the very end of his testimony, though, to make a somber plea for migrant workers' rights.

"We still invite them to come here and then tell them to leave. It's a paradox," Colbert said. "Migrant workers suffer and have no rights."

Pelosi said she didn't see the testimony, some of which overlapped with her 11 a.m. press conference, because she had been working