President Donald Trump blasted Democrats and Rep. Adam Schiff in particular for their partisan impeachment charade in an interview Friday. “I want a trial,” Trump insisted. “There should never be an impeachment. But assuming these people [Democrats] are as sleazy as they are … I want to see Adam Schiff testify about the whistleblower — who’s a fake whistleblower. The one who I want to testify most is ‘Shifty Schiff.’” The president added, “It’s very hard for them to impeach me when they have absolutely nothing.”

On Sunday, Schiff responded to Trump’s call, asking, “What would I offer in terms of testimony?” Hilariously, he then claimed that if the Republicans were to “go down this road” it would demonstrate their “fundamental lack of seriousness,” making impeachment a “circus like the president would like.” Of course, there’s good reason for Schiff to testify — namely that his office coordinated with the “whistleblower” prior to the complaint being filed. Schiff needs to be questioned regarding his role in this whole sordid affair. When asked if he would be willing to testify if he were called, Schiff predictably demurred, “I don’t want to comment on it.”

So, where does the impeachment play go from here? Recent polling shows that Democrats aren’t winning over Americans, as a clear majority of voters are now opposed to impeaching Trump. It has become clear to most Americans that the Democrats are engaged in a purely partisan effort, no matter how loudly they claim otherwise. Democrats’ repeated calls for Trump’s impeachment began before he was even sworn into office, totally undercutting their insistence that their intention is anything but a calculated hit job aimed at damaging Trump’s reelection bid.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now must scramble to keep Democrats from abandoning the impeachment ship. There are rumors that Pelosi maybe considering backing off holding an impeachment vote, as a trial in the Senate would serve to further expose Democrat shenanigans that are responsible for orchestrating this whole ridiculous affair. The trouble for Pelosi is that if she doesn’t hold a vote, she risks angering her party’s leftist base. It would look exactly like what it would be — a win for Trump.

Next up, the impeachment ball moves to the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), where there will likely be more witnesses called to testify. Pelosi and company will have to move fast if she still intends to hold an impeachment vote before Christmas.