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07/07/2016 06:57 AM EDT


By Heather Caygle (hcaygle@politico.com or @heatherscope)

With assistance from Daniel Lippman and Burgess Everett

NEW THIS A.M.: RYAN WRITES TO CLAPPER ON CLINTON-House Speaker Paul Ryan is sending a letter to James Clapper, director of National Intelligence, this morning to officially request that Hillary Clinton be denied access to classified information while running for president. The move comes just hours before FBI Director James Comey testifies on the Hill about his decision not to prosecute Clinton despite her "extremely careless" handling of classified documents on a private email server. Ryan first suggested the idea of denying Clinton classified access Tuesday and is now making his request official.

"As a former vice presidential nominee, I am keenly aware that Secretary Clinton is set to begin receiving classified intelligence briefings after the Democratic National Convention," Ryan wrote. "Given the FBI's findings, denying Secretary Clinton access to classified information certainly constitutes appropriate sanctions." Huddle readers get the letter: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc604274eb9df6d73064210613ab2e05a003396141df3e977cf

But that's not all: Ryan is also firing off a missive to Comey this morning calling on the FBI to release all unclassified findings from the bureau's investigation into Clinton's email use. "Right now, there are simply too many unanswered questions," Ryan wrote. Read the letter: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc698a091f3f064ae4177776fc6e7ff18a8bbedcc4dc0a7dbbb

What to expect from this morning's hearing: In a Tuesday phone call, Comey told House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz "that he'll have to be ''somewhat restrained' in answering questions, the Utah Republican said. The FBI director rarely takes questions on investigations in which the agency decides not to pursue charges. But Comey wanted to testify sooner rather than later and actually picked Thursday when speaking with Chaffetz, the lawmaker said." Rachael and Bres: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc6a3b4142d5e18b55353624b980d4a46247e41596e75ac9adb

We're losing count: Already, five congressional committees plan to hold hearings or are requesting official information on the Clinton email probe, according to a tally from the Hill, as Republicans try to hammer the issue home before the long recess. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, in an interview with USA Today, called Republicans' insistence that Comey testify a "waste of the taxpayers' dollars" and said they "can never take 'no' for an answer." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc6544ff21e2a47952d4c7455dac2b92c753888cec8e0a07773

Related read: Will House Republicans overplay their hand on Clinton? From Paul Kane: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc65be88c60b6a059536da7c3a21477f92a5a732387e93f2306

TRUMP, TRUMP, TRUMP- As I'm sure we've mentioned this week, Donald Trump will be on the Hill this morning to meet separately with House and Senate Republicans. The meetings will be the first opportunity for many rank-and-file Republicans to meet their presumptive nominee and the last real chance to rally around him in a show of unity before the GOP convention in Cleveland.

Excuses, excuses: Some lawmakers have already announced they're skipping this morning's meetings, at times offering very-er-interesting reasons for why they can't make it. Rachael and Bres: "Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) told reporters he had 'a longstanding appointment downtown.' Another member said he had to be at the doctor's office and couldn't make it."

"A third said he had a 'breakfast meeting.' The member - who asked not to be named - then pulled out his schedule for Thursday morning. When he saw that there wasn't any event on his schedule, the member took out a pen and wrote 'Breakfast meeting' on it. 'See, I have one!' he joked." Full story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc6a3b4142d5e18b55353624b980d4a46247e41596e75ac9adb

Security wait times: And if you're going to the Capitol Hill Club this morning, where Trump will meet with House Republicans, be sure to build in a little extra time to get through the door. The club sent out a notice Wednesday warning of extra security procedures while Trump is in the building.

THANK GOODNESS IT'S THURSDAY, July 7. Good morning and thanks for reading POLITICO's Huddle, your play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill. Friday seems so far away so here's a picture of Biggie living her best life to help you make it through today: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc6a42aeba0cae39d5410094b2f9c5afa146eb26a45151467c7

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The House meets at 10 a.m. with first votes starting around 2:30 p.m. and votes possible later in the evening. The Senate gavels in at 9:30 a.m. to continue work on the GMO labeling bill with votes possible later in the day.

AROUND THE HILL- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A. And House Speaker Paul Ryan follows with his weekly press briefing at 11:30 a.m., also in HVC Studio A.

Reps. John Fleming, Louie Gohmert, Cynthia Lummis and Matt Salmon hold "conversations with conservatives" starting at 12 p.m. in 2360 Rayburn. Sens. Bob Casey and Johnny Isakson will host a 3:30 p.m. pen and pad on their bill to cut off terror financing in S-316.

FROM BOOS TO BACKING-Just hours after getting booed by a handful of House Democrats for dodging questions about backing Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders seems to be warming up to the idea. Sanders said Wednesday night that he's in talks with the campaign about an official endorsement, something he's dodged for weeks, adding that he expects a "coming together" of the two campaigns. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc6cd2bb0e84ae4849d39c05ff19aa485f0f8cf272eddecfbb6

DROPPING LIKE FLIES-First Sen. Bob Corker took himself out of the running for Trump's VP, telling the Washington Post the gig is just too political for him, and then Sen. Joni Ernst essentially followed suit. So who's left from the Capitol Hill pickings?

"That leaves Sens. Jeff Sessions, a staunch immigration reform opponent from Alabama and Trump's closest Hill ally, and long-shot pick Tom Cotton, the youthful and hawkish freshman from Arkansas, as the most prominent names remaining from the congressional pool," report Burgess and Seung Min.

Sad! "The withdrawals Wednesday further depressed Senate Republicans who are still looking for some measure of reassurance from Trump's unrelenting campaign controversies and who thought his choice for running mate could be a soothing gesture."

To be or not to be: "Republicans being floated for the No. 2 post - particularly those who could run for president themselves in the future - face a tough call. They're weighing the call of duty to the Republican Party against stepping into the great unknown of being forever associated with Trump." The story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc60dfd4d99c2d7f64007530d86aaf3823a5d3170b1b1158941

HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS ON WHAT'S NEXT-The group of conservative rabble rousers has an agenda for the rest of 2016 and it includes a heavy focus on social issues, reports Daniel Newhauser. More: The group "has singled out five pieces of legislation that have the support of at least 80 percent of its members. Instead of waiting for a new president, members want to move the legislation as soon as the House returns from the August recess." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc60a8edc4a79211a1de6a29145c548ce0bdb368262e8efa0b4

WELL, ON SECOND THOUGHT-Sen. Marco Rubio has changed his mind and won't be attending the GOP convention after all. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc6e99251c1e2f6a172faa0b010ae56cb8a1e893d9c43c790c6

CRUZ ALREADY PREPPING FOR 2020 RUN- Sen. Ted Cruz is shaking up his office staff, including replacing his chief of staff, and creating two new nonprofits that will help him make another run for president, reports National Review. "The moves send a clear signal, if there was any doubt, that Cruz, the runner-up for this year's Republican nomination, is preparing for another run in 2020." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc63a732e70dca0c9d45cedc9f285509b23c41e2adcb8eead41

DOLLA DOLLA BILL, Y'ALL-- A group of protesters angry about Senate action on the GMO labeling bill, showered the chamber with $2,000 in cash Wednesday to bring attention to their cause. Roll Call: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc68f02770abb33684eb070b14d90806affc1146294070bec69

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY- Former Rep. John Dingell turns 90 on Friday and Republicans and Democrats alike gathered in the House room that bears his name Wednesday to celebrate the milestone. The bash included an ice cream sundae buffet and GOP Rep. Fred Upton even sang Dingell the Boehner birthday song. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2ac600f0c33fefc6c80d90e03f61b24385b1b304f18fbc801e0d8fdedfda8818

MOVIN' ON UP-Chris Hodgson has been promoted from floor assistant to deputy director of floor operations for House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.

EXIT LOUNGE-James Wallner is leaving his post as executive director of the Senate Steering Committee to join Heritage as the group's vice president for research starting July 18.

WEDNESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Kirtan Mehta and Claude Marx both answered at the same time that Terry Sanford from North Carolina was the former FBI agent, WWII vet, governor and senator who twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Claude brings today's question: If Hillary Clinton is elected she'd be the sixth secretary of state to become president. Who was the most recent? Bonus points if you give me the others too. The first correct answer gets a mention in tomorrow's Huddle. Email me: hcaygle@politico.com

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