Schumer to colleagues running for White House: Impeachment comes first

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) says Democratic colleagues running for president, such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), should prioritize the Senate impeachment trial over campaigning ahead of the Iowa caucuses.

The trial could tie up senators on the Senate floor for the entire month of January, right before the first contest of the Democratic primary calendar scheduled in Iowa for Feb. 3.{mosads}

With the possibility of close votes on procedural questions such as what witnesses should be called to the Senate floor, Schumer says colleagues should make the trial their first priority, even if it might tread on their campaign plans.

“This has to come first. This is one of the most solemn decisions that anyone has to make and I’ve told all members of my caucus that scheduling concerns are secondary to doing this the right way,” Schumer told reporters Tuesday.

A Senate trial is expected to begin after New Year’s Day but Schumer and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) still have to sit down to negotiate a resolution to set the rules and parameters of the trial.

In addition to Sanders and Warren, who are at the top of polls along with former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.Y.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) are also running for the party’s presidential nomination.

A Senate trial would put a major crimp in their schedule.

Senate rules generally call for the chamber to be in session six days a week to hear the case presented by the House impeachment managers and the defense presented by President Trump’s legal team.

During that time, senators are required to sit in their seats and listen to the evidence without speaking. They may submit questions and proposals for motions to the presiding chair, who would be Chief Justice John Roberts.

Schumer said he’s waiting for an invitation from McConnell to discuss next month’s schedule.

“As soon as he’s ready,” Schumer said.