Starting impeachment defense, Trump and GOP take aim at Schiff

The President's tweet was just a coda to a weekend filled with attacks on Schiff by GOP lawmakers in Congress, as in unison they praised the start of the President's impeachment defense.

"It completely undermined the case of the Democrats and truly undermined the credibility of Adam Schiff," said Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), as GOP Senators rushed to the microphones on Saturday afternoon to denounce the California Democrat.

"Adam Schiff has been involved in this from the beginning," said Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN), as Republicans tried to portray Schiff as the evil genius behind the various investigations which have dogged this President.

"I think Adam Schiff got kneecapped," said Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) in an interview on Fox News, using a phrase sometimes associated with a mob punishment.

Democrats said it was nothing but Republicans and the President trying to focus on anything other than the evidence in the impeachment trial.

"You are not a king, nor a mafia Don," said Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). "We aren’t afraid of you. But we can tell you are afraid of us."

Asked on NBC's 'Meet the Press' if he took the tweet as a threat, Schiff said that was likely the President's intent.

The President's lawyers will continue their arguments starting at 1 pm ET on Monday before the U.S. Senate - if no witnesses are called by Senators, then the trial could be over by the end of the week.