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By Seung Min Kim (
mailto:skim@politico.com
skim@politico.com or @seungminkim)

DEMS HOLD FATE ON IRAN BILL - POLITICO's Burgess Everett on what yesterday's Iran deal means for Congress: "Republicans have written legislation they think can move quickly through the Senate. It would give Congress a critical role in accepting or rejecting a deal with Tehran. But they need Democrats to proceed with the bill, and the White House is sure to start twisting arms in the party to try and keep the measure off the Senate floor. Several Democrats have previously said they would support the legislation, but now that Obama can argue he's made progress, Democrats will have to decide whether they want to openly rebuke the administration's diplomatic efforts."

--" 'Congress does have a right to review the agreement, the sanctions are imposed by Congress. A review process established by Congress makes sense,' [Sen. Ben] Cardin [the new Foreign Relations ranking member] said late Thursday afternoon. But, he added a critical disclaimer: 'I want it to strengthen the president, not weaken the president, I don't want it to undermine negotiations.'"
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5daddbb5c0756cb26a74ae48e19ef5f9738e7f8711672ce09
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5daddbb5c0756cb26a74ae48e19ef5f9738e7f8711672ce09

--The Wall Street Journal has more reaction from the Senate: "Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) said lawmakers can't be seen as jeopardizing the negotiations as they reach the final stages. 'Those who are critical of today's framework have the responsibility to present a serious, credible alternative that would get us to our ultimate goal: achieving a nuclear-free Iran in a way that doesn't require another war,' Mr. Murphy said. Some lawmakers said they were wary about whether the deal could effectively prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Sen. Dan Coats (R., Ind.) said previous deals, including one with North Korea in 1994, have raised questions among lawmakers."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5ba8b77ed09cf04c3213cd64b7d1fd1a30756daeced8b5c1c
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5ba8b77ed09cf04c3213cd64b7d1fd1a30756daeced8b5c1c

--The Washington Post has a handy step-by-step guide explaining the Iran deal:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc538aca022183b757f9bec4e45885d14effeb52047681e48bc
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc538aca022183b757f9bec4e45885d14effeb52047681e48bc

CARDIN IN THE SPOTLIGHT - With Sen. Bob Menendez's indictment, Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin is taking over the ranking member slot on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the time being. Here's John Fritze for the Baltimore Sun on what we can expect from Cardin: "Congressional observers and foreign policy experts predicted that he is likely to take a different approach with the White House than his predecessor ... A staunch supporter of Israel, Cardin ... has taken a more nuanced stance than Menendez on U.S. talks with Iran - one that is more closely aligned with the Obama administration. He has supported tougher sanctions on the country, but also agreed not to press the matter to allow
negotiations with Tehran to develop."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc544b2293a3ce1fc169c32a877b6b1688b5dae6c97498fe95e
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc544b2293a3ce1fc169c32a877b6b1688b5dae6c97498fe95e

BOB'S BACKERS: 'WE SUPPORT YOU!' - The charges laid out by federal prosecutors against Sen. Bob Menendez were detailed and serious, but his fans and political allies in the Garden State are holding strong for the indicted senator. My dispatch from Newark: "As he prepares for likely months of legal battles, Menendez's Democratic backers said they were ready to stand by him through the ordeal. 'He's going to fight this all the way, and I'm going to help as much as I can,' Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.) said in a phone interview. Asked whether the senator should resign, Sires responded: 'Why? He hasn't been found guilty. And that's not in Bob's DNA.'"

--" 'The reaction is, we don't believe it. We don't,' Felix Roque, Democratic mayor of West New York, New Jersey, said of the corruption charges in an interview here. 'It's a big game they're playing, and we believe he's an honorable man.' Roque, who survived his own legal troubles when he was acquitted of federal hacking charges in 2013, added: 'There's gonna be pressure for him to fight this to the utmost. And knowing him, it's in his chromosome that this guy's a fighter.'"
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc50a537654b9931e3ad4a2e644e7b0f1714909016591a920b5
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc50a537654b9931e3ad4a2e644e7b0f1714909016591a920b5

HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY in federal court to all 14 federal corruption charges. In a brief statement outside the courthouse, Menendez took the same defiant tone he's had for weeks, and his attorney says he's asked the Justice Department to investigate leaks to the press about the case:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc59b2ed779a5b5c39414e0aefa03b9a27e5c09296f139c667a
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc59b2ed779a5b5c39414e0aefa03b9a27e5c09296f139c667a

--POLITICO's John Bresnahan details how Menendez plans to take on Justice: "A day after his indictment on bribery and a slew of other corruption charges, Sen. Robert Menendez is mounting a PR offensive against the Justice Department, saying prosecutors were 'tricked' into a years-long, misguided witch hunt against him. But despite all his bluster, it's unclear whether the New Jersey Democrat is pushing back in order to try to create legal and political space for an eventual plea deal, or whether he truly believes he can beat the rap."

--"Talking points being circulated among Menendez supporters attack DOJ's case against him as 'weak' and inherently flawed. Bribery can be tough for prosecutors to prove, and the DOJ has shied away from such charges in recent corruption cases."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5eb0a0e3e56052d8ee416fc4a8a93ec5e875c33daefb3d1d6
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5eb0a0e3e56052d8ee416fc4a8a93ec5e875c33daefb3d1d6

--Menendez sends around a video message to supporters, claiming that he has done "nothing wrong." The clip, via Buzzfeed:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5ba7a0aa9636bea8df7f3c81cf30abc70f57d8a55be8df092
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5ba7a0aa9636bea8df7f3c81cf30abc70f57d8a55be8df092 . Meanwhile, the New York Times calls on him to resign:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5bb7db10c323e6a2ab10b333a3219f6f77607d9020acd7833
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5bb7db10c323e6a2ab10b333a3219f6f77607d9020acd7833

--Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), the most targeted Senate Democrat this cycle, will return donations from a political action committee with ties to Menendez, Burgess scoops:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5bef2bee71a2307a6f411055edf8c5fd2341d8da15084f31d
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5bef2bee71a2307a6f411055edf8c5fd2341d8da15084f31d

--And HuffPo reports that Senate Majority PAC has cut ties with an anonymous fundraiser featured in DOJ's 68-page indictment:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5851e6e0616f8edf76f29bd868e63c2a0cba2648c65de2cb1
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5851e6e0616f8edf76f29bd868e63c2a0cba2648c65de2cb1

THINGS WE MISSED during our four-hour drive back from Newark -

@MileyCyrus: Let's stir some shit up! Senator Cotton (202) 224-2353 !!!! Happy Hippies call & express why freedom is important to us & our country!

AND THEN THERE WERE 51 - Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) announced Thursday he'll back Loretta Lynch for attorney general, giving the federal prosecutor a no-Joe-Biden-needed majority to be confirmed. Kirk hinted for weeks that he'd support her, praising her views on combating gang violence when asked (seemingly every day) by reporters whether he had made up his mind. The Chicago Sun-Times: "Kirk made his remarks during a City Club of Chicago luncheon. It came in response to a question from an audience member, who stressed Lynch's nomination had been in limbo for 140 days."

--"Kirk said he met with Lynch on March 11 and spoke with her about giving 'tangible federal support to the city of Chicago to crush criminal gangs.' 'Loretta did a pretty good job with me and because she is so good on the subject, I'm going to vote for Loretta Lynch's confirmation,' Kirk said, with many in the crowd clapping."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc53ddbaa2348e7183be1547a2f20ce58f24f0f1c63bbef6bce
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc53ddbaa2348e7183be1547a2f20ce58f24f0f1c63bbef6bce

--Votes to still watch for on Lynch: Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rob Portman of Ohio. ICYMI, aides to Bob Menendez said he'll vote for Lynch, despite initial indications that he may recuse in light of his indictment on Wednesday.

HAPPY FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 and welcome to The Huddle, where we're thankful for colleagues Lauren French and Burgess Everett for holding down the fort during our quick jaunt to Newark. Please send your tips, suggestions, comments, complaints, and corrections to
mailto:skim@politico.com
skim@politico.com and please follow along on Twitter at @seungminkim.

And next week, Rachael Bade - the newest member of POLITICO's Congress team - will be joining the Huddle squad and taking over your newsletter. Give her a warm welcome at
mailto:rbade@politico.com
rbade@politico.com and @rachaelmbade.

My new followers include @AESteele and @anniekarni.

TODAY IN CONGRESS - [.....]

WE HEAR .... Joe Manchin's office still has boxes of pepperoni rolls lying around for anyone with a craving. Reminder: Each one of these has 69 percent of your daily sodium intake.

SCHOCK LAWYERS UP, AGAIN - Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer for POLITICO: "Schock has hired Jeffrey Lang, an Iowa-based partner in Lane and Waterman, who was the U.S. attorney from the central district of Illinois, and McGuire Woods D.C.-based partner George Terwilliger, who is a leader in the firm's white collar defense team. Terwilliger was a U.S. Attorney in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations - he served as acting attorney general under Bush. Schock has already hired William McGinley and Don McGahn from Jones Day in Washington to represent him."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5431fd7c8b2492ddd285eef91d255f6b056d3694615fceda7
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5431fd7c8b2492ddd285eef91d255f6b056d3694615fceda7

MURRAY MUM AMID SCHUMER-DURBIN FRAY - From National Journal's Fawn Johnson and Sarah Mimms: "Murray is an unlikely candidate to challenge a member of her own party for a leadership post that he or she wants. She is known and trusted among the caucus precisely because she is straightforward about her intentions and her positions. It's a safe bet that she's not going to try to oust anyone from an internal Democratic post, because that simply isn't her style. Unlike some of her other colleagues in leadership, Murray is not the type to quietly plot an insurrection, particularly against a friend like Durbin."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5a918cbd06a61f0809d9da86471f75b525b91f1004e4b90c8
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc5a918cbd06a61f0809d9da86471f75b525b91f1004e4b90c8

--The Hill's Alex Bolton on how Chuck Schumer rose to the top:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc54c16ce2f3cff7798acbcce1cc6c8b68749faddd92ad0f564
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc54c16ce2f3cff7798acbcce1cc6c8b68749faddd92ad0f564

LATEST ON BUDGET: GOP UPBEAT - Yours truly, along with Rachael Bade, have the latest on the budget talks going on over recess: "The GOP still has to clear several land mines standing in the way of a final deal: the size and scope of spending cuts to domestic programs, who gets first crack at an Obamacare repeal and how specific to go in wringing savings out of Medicare. Further down the road, the White House is demanding that sequester-mandated spending cuts be lifted. But finalizing a budget is a must-do for Republicans. That's why GOP staff are already meeting behind closed doors to iron out any differences, even as lawmakers have scattered across the globe for the recess."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc50310678f4acdbcf400ba5dd62ea28416057823edee363b34
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc50310678f4acdbcf400ba5dd62ea28416057823edee363b34

KLOBUCHAR WRITING MEMOIR - Via Allison Sherry of the Strib: "The book, called 'The Senator Next Door: A Memoir from the Heartland,' will be released Aug. 25 ... 'I wrote 'The Senator Next Door' because I want more people to have faith that our democracy can get things done for the people of this country,' she said ... The memoir is sprawling, reportedly covering Klobuchar's early years, her father's struggles with alcohol, her career as a prosecutor and her first 2006 campaign to be a senator. Her father, Jim Klobuchar, was a longtime columnist for the Star Tribune."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc52977238bb8470644f09123663e72aa102987db3c448ed0e9
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc52977238bb8470644f09123663e72aa102987db3c448ed0e9

CHAFFETZ, SECRET SERVICE REJECT - It turns out the man on Capitol Hill investigating the misdeeds of the Secret Service long ago applied to work at the agency - and was turned down. Tim Mak for The Daily Beast: " 'It was because I was too old,' the Utah Republican told The Daily Beast. 'I'm not sure [the reason]...that's more than a decade ago.' ... Asked whether he harbored any ill will at being rejected from the agency, he replied, 'That's pretty funny, no.' He pointed out that his grandfather had been a law enforcement agent. Chaffetz said he 'might have' applied to the FBI around the same time, as well."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc59fc608704fa9e3db93eb9b42501f00b04a5bec8e98a3c35a
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=24aaa449f9fc3cc59fc608704fa9e3db93eb9b42501f00b04a5bec8e98a3c35a

THURSDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Kirtan Mehta was the first person to correctly respond that 2000 was the year the most women held statewide elected office.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Kirtan has today's question: Sen. Bob Menendez is the 12th U.S. senator to be indicted. How many of the previous 11 were convicted? The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in the next day's Huddle. Email
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