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05/17/2017 08:04 AM EDT


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

With assists from John Bresnahan and Burgess Everett

TRUMP'S NEW REALITY - President Donald Trump faces his gravest danger yet on Capitol Hill after an explosive report that he asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end an investigation into Michael Flynn. "I hope you can let this go," the president told Comey, according to a memo the former FBI director wrote, Michael Schmidt reports. There was a clear shift in the mood around the Capitol Tuesday evening after the New York Times' story dropped. And now the question is this: Will loyal GOP foot soldiers, a group that has already stood by Trump through several embarrassing, destructive and self-inflicted missteps, defend him this time?

Within an hour of the news, House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz announced he was willing to subpoena the Comey memo and other documents the former bureau chief may have left behind. Chaffetz then fired off a letter to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe demanding the bureau turn over "all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings referring to or relating to any communications between Comey and the president" by next Wednesday.

Speaker Paul Ryan weighs in: "We need to have all the facts, and it is appropriate for the House Oversight Committee to request this memo," spokeswoman AshLee Strong said.

"Republicans are privately beginning to worry that they may one day have to sit in judgment of Trump, or that more damaging information from Comey could force the president to step down," Bres and Rachael report. "More Republicans have openly discussed the possibility of a select committee or the appointment of a special prosecutor to look into the Trump-Russia connection. It's still a minority of GOP lawmakers, but Republican leaders are watching closely." "I think we're at the position now where it is time for independent commission or a special prosecutor," Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said on CNN this morning.

Several Republicans were even joining Democrats in demanding that Comey publicly testify as soon as possible. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) had invited Comey to testify at a Senate Judiciary panel on Tuesday, before the news broke. "I don't think we can just shrug our shoulders and walk away from this one," said a top House Republican, who asked not to be named. "I don't know where this goes." Much more from Bres and Rachael: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=965e16e106847dbf3bd4799b6f003439ed9ffb4ecc9c71cf95c171c787a3aac3360a5c5357da04677995de8f30421d0f

STAND BY YOUR MAN - Even before the memo, Republicans were already defending Trump for his decisions to fire Comey and reveal highly classified information to Russian officials during an Oval Office meeting last week. Why? Republicans made a deal months ago to accept an "erratic, mistake-prone president" in exchange for the chance to enact a dream wish list that includes repealing Obamacare and pushing through major tax cuts, Burgess and Josh Dawsey report.

** A message from the American Society of Anesthesiologists: When Seconds Count ... Physician Anesthesiologists Save Lives. Physician anesthesiologists are medical specialists with the education and training to make critical decisions that can mean the difference between life and death. Protect patients with safe, high-quality, physician-led care. Learn more at www.asahq.org/WhenSecondsCount. **

Are things different this time? "Barring a dead-to-rights impeachable offense, it seems there will be no widespread GOP condemnation of the president, or calls for a special prosecutor to investigate him," they report. The mood has definitely changed on Capitol Hill after the Comey memo, as we noted above. But will it be sustained and if so, what's the long-term Republican response?

Stay tuned: House GOP leaders hold their usual press conference today at 10 a.m. following the weekly Republican Conference meeting. Watch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=965e16e106847dbf17cf7ca96184eb2bc4295ff69c53fdc2024e482688cf60fbdbba32cf1e100e1db7caa54c0930b412

WOO-HOO, WEDNESDAY. Welcome to May 17 and as always, thanks for reading POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill.

TUESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Jen and Seung Min's story about Sens. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz wanting to go nuclear on the Senate's reconciliation rules to pass an Obamacare repeal.

TWEET DU JOUR: @Edatpost: Wow: @CBSThisMorning says it asked 20 GOP lawmakers to be a guest this AM to talk about Trump. And asked the WH for someone. ALL declined.

CALL ME MAYBE? Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr is having a hard time getting the White House to answer his calls. Burr and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, top Democrat on the Intel panel, have asked for a briefing with people who were in the room with Trump last week when he told the Russians classified information about an ISIS terrorist plot. On Tuesday, "the North Carolina senator said he had been trying to get on the phone with the White House 'all morning,' adding: 'Maybe they're busy.'" Austin and Seung Min: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=965e16e106847dbfd87f7006937b3bc54ded4ca258520f310b69861d0b6142b6ee34be18805860ff16f8f6e42c54c679

CORNYN DROPS OUT OF FBI RACE - Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn has pulled out of the running to be the next FBI director after interviewing for the job over the weekend. Both Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions had called Cornyn and asked him to consider the job last week. "Now more than ever the country needs a well-credentialed, independent FBI director," he said in a statement. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) also withdrew from consideration this week. Burgess: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=965e16e106847dbfffabee0526d8d505004bed1f8ace6bb8a5b4048de9a1044f0288afcbf912900d877866d6e08ae364

Thanks but no thanks: Even after being recommended to the president by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), former Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland signaled he has no interest in the FBI job. "Aides to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) had privately prodded associates of Garland - who had stayed mum as speculation swirled about Trump naming him to the FBI - to make clear publicly that he wasn't interested in the position, according to one source familiar with the interaction." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=965e16e106847dbf9143fe708183d533e61e67bd5c2192c85ced4f00f6102b6275252912faab66d698a2942aa4e553fd

ISSA FLIPS OFF POLITICO REPORTER - Many Republicans, hauled to the chamber to vote right as the story on the Comey memo was breaking Tuesday night, were shell-shocked, unsure of how to respond. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) took it a step further, shooting the bird to our Capitol Hill reporter Rachael Bade and walking away. Issa later tweeted that it didn't happen, prompting several other Hill reporters to jump to Rachael's defense. "I was there. Not in position to see the gesture but saw Issa turn to Rachael, her react. I believe @rachaelmbade," the AP's Erica Werner tweeted. HuffPost's Jen Bendery even started an #IBelieveRachaelBade hashtag.

TIBERI PASSES ON SENATE BID - Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi won't challenge Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown next year, he announced Tuesday. Tiberi, a senior member on the Ways and Means Committee, said he'd rather stay in the House and work on health care and tax issues. Many expected Tiberi to run given the massive war chest he's accumulated-- $6.3 million is sitting in his campaign account right now compared to $4.9 million for Brown. Jack Torry with the Columbus Dispatch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=965e16e106847dbf9a52cb9b6f21f8153d173b77230aaa92cbfc9359527720d28fd9d7d281ee47e1c0f27dcc02c680b8

OCE INVESTIGATING COLLINS COMPLAINTS - Investigators with the Office of Congressional Ethics "are probing Rep. Chris Collins' role in attracting investors to an Australian biotech company, interviewing several of them in the Buffalo area Tuesday and Wednesday," the Buffalo News reports.

"They are looking into any potential role played by Collins, the firm's largest shareholder, in persuading investors to buy stock in the company. Earlier this year reporters overheard Collins in a cellphone conversation just off the House floor, saying 'how many millionaires I've made in Buffalo the past few months.'" Robert McCarthy and Jerry Zremski with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=965e16e106847dbf6f703d86bffbbf092b6c4c2b1e53bd4c2a184f8403f43cd848404ecfacaaa4444548544685f40697

GET WELL SOON - First-term Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono will undergo treatment for kidney cancer, she announced Tuesday. "Her treatment will involve the removal of her right kidney as well as an outpatient procedure to remove a cancerous lesion on one of her ribs. It is being overseen by a kidney cancer specialist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C., according to a statement by Hirono's office." Charles Lam with NBC News: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=965e16e106847dbf44be7a0490f7004d612220783bc1e7b57d9f10f84f7ccce32efe42f71207217f7aa6f1c87cd29dda

VERY IMPORTANT DUCKLING UPDATE - The Architect of the Capitol's Twitter account posted a video of ducklings using the new reflecting pool ramp and it's just as adorable as you'd expect. Watch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=965e16e106847dbf0aae06b3c9d1fb6c7630883b0f354eebb3e92e6052333b1f5feb15425a946c5e40313604d6cf7b46

WATCH LIVE AT 6PM - An Audit on Tax Reform: Washington's Road Ahead: Join POLITICO for beers and conversation on the legislative possibilities for corporate tax reform, what an eventual tax reform bill might look like, and whether there's room for bipartisan collaboration. Speakers include: Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas); Jason Furman, Peterson Institute for International Economics; Maya MacGuineas, CRFB; James Pethokoukis, AEI. Livestream begins at 6pm: here.

DEPARTURE LOUNGE - Vince Zito starts today as VP of corporate communications and government relations for SunTrust bank. Zito worked for two years as communications director for Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas).

Money move: Sen. Jerry Moran's longtime spokeswoman Katie Niederee is moving over to the Senate Finance Committee as press secretary. Jordan Langdon is your go-to in Moran-world now.

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m. with a roll call vote related to Rachel Brand, associate attorney general nominee, at 12 p.m. The House meets at 10 a.m. with first votes around 1:30 p.m. and last votes around 5 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=965e16e106847dbf34dd64808e76715065ccb3203521618d01031e5f38d4309a8fe1d80cb42d16ea2c20d01af0d28b9d

AROUND THE HILL - Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Susan Davis (D-Calif.), Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), Tom Graves (R-Ga.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) and Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) participate in the three-mile Capital Challenge race to benefit the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation starting at 8 a.m.

Blumenauer and Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) hold a 9:30 a.m. press conference in the House triangle on cannabis policy. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and other GOP leaders hold a press avail after their caucus meeting at 10 a.m. in the RNC lobby.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) and Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.) hold a 10:30 a.m. press conference in HVC Studio A after Democrats' weekly caucus meeting.

Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) hold an 11:30 a.m. conference call the DOJ's mandatory minimum sentencing policy. Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) hold a 1 p.m. press conference in the House triangle on benefits for female veterans.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), CAPAC Chairwoman Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Crowley and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) participate in a ceremony celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at 1 p.m. in the CVC auditorium. Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) hold a press conference on the GOP's Obamacare repeal plan and its impact on children and Medicaid at 2 p.m. in the Senate swamp.

Jayapal and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) take part in a discussion on emerging civil rights threats to the Asian American Pacific Islander community at 2:30 p.m. in the CVC auditorium. Reps. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) hold a 3:30 p.m. press conference on Infrastructure Week in the Senate swamp.

Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) and Hassan hold a discussion on women veterans followed by the screening of a documentary called "Soldier On: Life After Deployment." The event starts at 6:30 p.m. in CVC-268.

TUESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Alex Harman correctly guessed that Kelly AuCoin, cast member on the show "Billions," got his start in acting as a kid appearing in a campaign commercial for his father, former Oregon Democratic Rep. Les AuCoin.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Alex with today's question: What son of a former senator - raised in D.C. - brought a lawsuit to his state Supreme Court in order to be declared a state resident, and thus eligible to run for governor? The first person to correctly answer gets a shout out in tomorrow's Huddle. And don't forget, send suggestions for trivia questions my way: hcaygle@politico.com

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** A message from the American Society of Anesthesiologists: When Seconds Count ... Physician Anesthesiologists Save Lives. Every surgery has risks. During her presurgery consultation, teenager Hunter shared information that triggered concerns by her physician anesthesiologist. As a highly trained physician with extensive medical knowledge and expertise in anesthesia - and in the human body and its systems - the physician anesthesiologist suspected Hunter might have an undiagnosed condition that could result in profound surgical complications. The physician anesthesiologist canceled Hunter's surgery and ordered additional tests - and that decision altered Hunter's life. If the original
surgery had been performed, Hunter's life could have changed completely. Having a physician anesthesiologist leading Hunter's care saved her from being paralyzed and resulted in a diagnosis and successful treatment of a brain tumor. Protect patients with safe, high-quality, physician-led care. Learn more through the American Society of Anesthesiologist's When Seconds Count initiative at www.asahq.org/WhenSecondsCount. **

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