Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) predicted today that Al Franken, the Democratic Senate hopeful embroiled in a lengthy recount with Republican Norm Coleman in Minnesota, will be seated “by the very beginning of April.”

Schumer, who was at the helm of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee last cycle, said Coleman, who was the incumbent, “is getting a little bit desperate” in his fight to contest recount results from the November general election.

Franken currently holds the lead in the recount, now being argued before a three-judge panel in the Gopher State. Minnesota has lacked full representation since the 111th Congress began on Jan. 6.

Democrats have maintained that Franken won the November election by a slim 225-vote margin, and they have repeatedly called on Coleman to step down. Republican Senators have threatened to filibuster any attempt to seat Franken while Coleman’s legal challenges continue.