Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerPelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act Will Democrats attempt to pack the Supreme Court again? Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' MORE (D-N.Y.) said Sunday that newly released emails show the importance of having White House witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial.

Schumer spoke at a press conference in New York City and called on President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act MORE to release the documents and allow witnesses to testify in front of the Senate to allow for a “full, fair and honest” trial.

“What is a trial with no witnesses and no documents?” he said, according to a press release from his office. “It's a sham trial. And that's why feel so strongly that there ought to be witnesses and documents.”

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Schumer cited the emails released this weekend in response to a Center for Public Integrity Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. One of the emails sent by senior White House official Michael Duffey requested that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pause military aid to Ukraine and to keep that information “closely held to those who need to know.”

The email was reportedly sent hours after Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Democrats have already requested that Duffey testify.

“If there was ever an argument that we need Mr. Duffey to come testify, this is that information,” Schumer said Sunday. “This email is explosive.”

The Senate minority leader questioned why Duffey wanted the withholding of the aid kept secret, why he requested it in the first place and whether the president had requested it.

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“Until we hear from the witnesses, until we get the documents, the American people will correctly assume that those blocking their testimony were aiding and abetting a cover-up, plain and simple,” Schumer said.

“So I'll close by saying this: President Trump, release the emails. Let the witnesses testify. What are you afraid of?” he added.

Schumer has been pushing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHawley warns Schumer to steer clear of Catholic-based criticisms of Barrett Senate GOP set to vote on Trump's Supreme Court pick before election Harris slams Trump's Supreme Court pick as an attempt to 'destroy the Affordable Care Act' MORE (R-Ky.) to allow witnesses in the Senate trial. But Republicans claim the House Democrats should have had all the necessary witnesses testify before impeaching the president, even though the White House blocked certain officials from testifying.

The House passed two articles of impeachment against the president last week. Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election Will Democrats attempt to pack the Supreme Court again? MORE (D-Calif.) has said she is withholding the articles from the Senate until the rules for the trial are decided upon.