Chuck Schumer wants Senate Democrats to keep the pressure on Mitch McConnell to hold a fair trial if impeachment of President Donald Trump comes to the Senate — but he also wants to keep whacking the majority leader for presiding over a "legislative graveyard."

The Senate minority leader convened a conference call with his caucus on Wednesday to stay focused on its double-barreled messaging tactics while his 47 members are scattered across the country in the middle of a two-week recess, according to three people familiar with the call. The call was scheduled last week in place for the party's weekly caucus lunches; he plans to hold another one next week as well.


Schumer (D-N.Y.) urged his colleagues to not act partisan amid the impeachment inquiry and pressure McConnell (R-Ky.) to commit to a fair process if the House impeaches the president, according to a Democratic aide briefed on the call. The Democratic leader said the evidence so far confirms Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) decision to open an inquiry and that there should be a focus on ensuring McConnell allows a fair impeachment trial, the aide said, with Schumer mentioning phrases like "country over party" as key to Democratic messaging.