McConnell shoots down Schumer's offer on Senate impeachment trial rules

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday tore into an initial offer from Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on impeachment trial rules.

McConnell, speaking from the Senate floor, described the proposal from the Democratic leader as "dead wrong" and warned that it "could set a nightmarish precedent for our institution."

"The Senate Democratic leader would apparently like our chamber to do House Democrats' homework for them. He wants to volunteer the Senate's time and energy on a fishing expedition," McConnell said.

McConnell's comments are the first time he's responded to Schumer's offer, sent on Sunday night, which outlined Democrats' opening proposal on how to handle the Senate's looming impeachment trial.

Schumer has defended his decision to send the letter, and publicly discuss it, noting that he had tried to get McConnell to sit down to talk impeachment trial rules two weeks ago. But McConnell on Tuesday knocked Schumer, arguing he "decided to short-circuit the customary and collegial process" of trying to establish impeachment rules.

"The preferable path would have been an in-person conversation, which none the less, I still hope to pursue," McConnell added.

Schumer wrote that Democrats want to call acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Mulvaney's senior adviser, Robert Blair, former national security adviser John Bolton, and Office of Management and Budget staffer Michael Duffey to testify as part of a Senate trial.

In a sticking point, Schumer wants one resolution — that would cover both procedure and calling specific witnesses — that would be passed at the start of the trial.