Schumer: 10-12 Republicans Who ‘Know In Their Hearts’ Witnesses Should Testify

As the battle over whether or not witnesses should be allowed to testify in the Trump impeachment trial continues to intensify, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has made a bold claim that there are up to a dozen GOP senators who “know in their hearts” that witnesses should be called.

Schumer reportedly made the comments on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront.” Initially, there were four GOP senators on whom the country had their eyes on, watching to see how they would do on the witness issue. Schumer’s recent comments suggest that this number might be growing.

“There are 10 to 12 Republicans who have never said a bad word about witnesses or documents, who know in their hearts it’s the right thing to do. But they have to weigh that against the pressure, the twisting of arms, that Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell will put on them,” Schumer said, adding that Democrats are feeling better today than they did a few days ago.

Schumer’s claims come as Kentucky GOP Senator and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told his caucus that they don’t have the votes to block witnesses. The gradual shift in party opinion is undoubtedly attributable to new revelations from former Ambassador John Bolton that Trump held up military aide from Ukraine until they agreed to investigate the son of former VP Joe Biden.

The Senate is expected to vote on whether they will call witnesses during the impeachment trial on Friday or Saturday. If they’re allowed to testify, it could spell unforeseen trouble for President Trump, who, just days ago, was expecting a quick acquittal in the Senate.

“Is there a chance that we might get a vote to allow witnesses and documents? Yes,” the minority leader said. “But is it also an uphill fight and I wouldn’t do any dances — joy dances — now? Yes, I would not.”