Schumer Warns ‘Days of Trump’s Supplicant Senate Are Over,’ Vows Probes
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned Wednesday that “the days of Trump’s supplicant Senate are over,” promising investigations, lawsuits and a push to end the Iran war.
“Whenever Trump defies the will of the American people or the law, we will launch investigations, take him to court and entangle him in legislative razor wire,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Schumer, on track to become majority leader in January, said Democrats will try to lower costs “with the president or without him. Period.”
He laid out priorities. “Number one: reducing costs, ending corruption,” Schumer said. Ending the Iran war, a driver of high energy prices, is also on the list, Fox News reported.
‘I’ll Be Re-elected’
Pressed a second time on whether he would lead the new majority, Schumer answered directly. “The issue is not me. I’ll be re-elected as majority leader,” he said.
Five newly elected Democrats have said they will oppose him in the closed-door vote: Adam Hamilton of Kansas, Juliana Stratton of Illinois, Troy Jackson of Maine, Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota and Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan.
No incumbent Democratic senator has publicly opposed him and no challenger has stepped forward, Fox News reported, so five votes are unlikely to stop him. Texas winner James Talarico has not said where he stands.
Schumer struck a cautious note about the mandate. “Many of the folks who voted for us yesterday are still skeptical, and that’s OK,” he said, according to the Associated Press.
“These voters did not give us the majority so we can do whatever we want,” he added. “Republicans received that opportunity two years ago and completely squandered it.”
Schumer said wins in long-shot states such as South Carolina, Texas and Kansas give Democrats “the opportunity to prove ourselves worthy of their trust.” He called the night “a generational remake of the Senate map.”
Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries both said President Donald Trump had not yet called them, despite his pledge to work with Democrats, the Washington Examiner reported. “No, not yet,” Schumer said.
Trump has made clear he can block their agenda. “I have the power of the veto,” he told reporters Wednesday, according to Fox News, while adding he would “get along probably” with Democrats.
Democrats will hold at least 54 Senate seats, the AP reported, but they will still need Republican help to pass most bills, which require 60 votes to clear a filibuster. Schumer sidestepped questions on whether he would scrap the rule.
He framed Tuesday’s results as a check on the president. “Elections have always been the strongest lever Americans have to counter a wannabe king, so long as Americans are willing to use it,” Schumer said. “Yesterday, America did.”
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