Sen. Chuck Schumer says there has been no progress on Senate impeachment trial

(The Slice): In the ongoing stand off between the White House and Senate Democrats, on Friday afternoon Sen. Chuck Schumer staunchly argued for documentary evidence that is necessary for a sufficient impeachment trial that and says he does not want to prolong the process.

He stood in rebuttal to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has just

Schumer, the Minority Leader said in an address from the Senate Chamber on Friday afternoon, "The rules of this trial will be determined by the majority in this chamber. . . We are no closer to a fair Senate trial than when we last met."

"Nothing in McConnell's argument has bolstered his position that there should not be witnesses as Democrats requested," argued Schumer.

Schumer's opinion considers new emails that were revealed since the Congress went on holiday break. In an email, Micheal Duffie wrote that the president had given "clear direction" to delay military assistance to Ukraine. This new development, Schumer surmises. is a "devastating blow" to the White House narrative on what occurred in the Ukraine call. He also pointed to redacted emails as a suppression of evidence.

Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani has said he will appear as a witness if subpoenaed.

According to The Hill, this week Giuliani told reporters outside Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida-based resort, that he “would testify” if summoned by the Senate during the impeachment trial.

McConnell has stated publicly that he would "take cues" from the White House, a problematic admission that leaves doubt the trial will be fair.

With the Senate having been on recess for holiday break along with the rest of the federal government, there has not been a meeting to fully discuss what happens next.