Powerful Democratic senators did not come to DNC Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s defense on Wednesday after discussions of a coup attempt. | AP Photo Big-name Democrats won't defend Wasserman Schultz There's growing chatter about a coup attempt against her, but some Democrats say it wouldn't be worth the agony.

The knives are out for Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Capitol Hill. But it’s unclear whether it amounts to griping or a more serious warning sign that the embattled Democratic Party chairwoman’s post is in jeopardy.

Powerful Democratic senators did not come to Wasserman Schultz’s defense on Wednesday after discussions of a coup attempt, first reported by The Hill on Tuesday evening, began gripping the Capitol.


Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, expected to ascend to the Democratic leader role next year, declined to comment and said he won’t be “mixing it up” on the contentious issue. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the highest ranking woman in the Senate, said she’s “focused” on her own job when asked about the Democratic National Committee chairwoman. And Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sidestepped the matter.

“That’s not up to me,” he said when asked if Wasserman Schultz should stay on.

Senate Democrats say privately that the polarizing DNC head and Florida congresswoman is just about the worst person to preside over the Democratic convention this summer and heal the party after her caustic remarks lately about Bernie Sanders. But talk of a coup attempt is all anonymous at this point.

“I think it’s real,” argued one Democratic senator, envisioning Wasserman Schultz being shouted down on national TV while presiding over the convention. “I think it’s in her best interest and Hillary Clinton’s best interest” to leave the job.

“No one thinks she's doing a good job but she won't step down and getting rid of her is a big task that at the end of the day always seems like more trouble than it's worth,” a senior Democratic aide added. “The feeling among those who want a change is that having her preside over the convention makes it much, much harder to resolve the rift between now and then, or potentially after.”

Asked about the sniping, DNC spokesman Luis Miranda said that many Senate Democrats have said publicly that they support Wasserman Schultz continuing in the role.

“She’s gonna continue to focus on uniting Democrats and on being an asset to help elect them up and down the ballot in November, just as she’s done for many in both chambers,” Miranda said.

At her weekly press conference, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi faced a barrage of questions about Wasserman Schultz, whom she supports.

"I don’t know why we’re spending so much time on the chair of the Democratic National Committee. I don’t know what the point is," she said. "This is not helpful in terms of unifying the party."

Indeed, several longtime Democratic hands said the party would only cause more internal damage by trying to push out Wasserman Schultz now, a moment when it needs to unite against Donald Trump.

“It’s neither productive nor realistic,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va), a former Democratic Party chairman himself who's oft-mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick for Hillary Clinton.

"I don't think [replacing her] would help anything,” added Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), saying such a move would be “a mistake."

Still, many Democrats believe strongly that Wasserman Schultz will be replaced after the November election, anyway. If her days are numbered and replacing her could help Clinton win over progressives, it may make sense to rip off the Band-Aid now, argued several Democratic sources.

But it would be an ugly moment for the party, and for now the chatter about removing Wasserman Schultz is just that. Many Democrats are wary about being caught between an angry progressive wing of the party and the establishment that helped many of them become senators in the first place.

Still, it is notable that several prominent Democrats are remaining neutral rather than backing Wasserman Schultz.

“From my perspective, I just think the real harmony doesn't come with Debbie Wasserman Schultz. It happens between Bernie and Hillary,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), the head of the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm. "It's a DNC thing, I just really don't pay much attention to what she does, to be honest with you.”

Wasserman Schultz recently accused Sanders supporters of violence and intimidation at a Nevada state party convention, and defended Democratic Party rules that Sanders’s campaign says have a pro-Clinton slant. Sanders said he won’t keep her on if he becomes president, then endorsed her House primary opponent and helped him raise hundreds of thousands of dollars.

With Sanders already smarting that the Democratic Primary has been tilted against him, the tension is coming to a head.

Reid has been trying to act as an arbiter between Sanders and those frustrated that he continues to run against and attack Clinton. On Wednesday morning, Reid met with Jane Sanders, the candidate’s wife, privately in his office; in an interview afterward, she declined to elaborate on the conversation.

“We talked about other things,” said Jane Sanders, who was in town to attend a luncheon for Senate spouses. “I haven’t seen anybody for so long, it was just nice to be back just for a few hours.”

When asked about the firestorm surrounding Wasserman Schultz, Jane Sanders responded: “I think [Bernie Sanders] said anything that we need to say.”

Daniel Strauss contributed to this report.

