WATCH: Schumer says abuse of power is ‘very serious,’ disputing Trump team's claim

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Jan. 28 rejected arguments from President Donald Trump’s legal team that the “abuse of power” charge being brought against Trump is not an impeachable offense. “If a president can at will, as President Trump would want to, get foreign powers to interfere in our elections and Americans no longer believe it’s the American people solely who decide who wins American elections, our democracy is eroded in a very dramatic way," Schumer told PBS NewsHour anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff in an interview. "So it’s a very, very serious charge.” Schumer added that the fact that Trump’s lawyers are arguing against calling witnesses in the impeachment trial shows they are actually “afraid of the charge.” The House of Representatives impeached the president in December based on two articles -- abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate must now decide whether to acquit Trump or convict and remove him from office.

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