Acknowledging Democrats’ limited influence in Congress, Schumer told anchor Jake Tapper, “The key here, of course, is getting some of our Republican colleagues to join us.”

Schumer said the need for a special prosecutor is stronger after Trump fired Comey, who was leading the FBI’s investigation into the collusion allegations. The New York Democrat called on Republicans to put an independent investigation over party loyalty, and referenced the Republican senator who said of then-President Richard Nixon during the Watergate investigation: “What did the President know, and when did he know it?”

“Where is the Howard Baker of 2017?” Schumer asked.