EMAIL DETAILS

06/07/2017 07:52 AM EDT


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

With an assist from Daniel Lippman

INTEL LEADERS TESTIFY TODAY - Four of the country's top intel officials will be grilled by the Senate Intelligence Committee this morning, one day ahead of James Comey's much-anticipated testimony before the panel. The hearing topic is technically the renewal of federal surveillance laws but expect Comey's firing and the Russia investigation to dominate. Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe and NSA Director Mike Rogers are all slated to testify, starting at 10 a.m.

Today's hearing will be Rosenstein's first public testimony since President Donald Trump fired Comey as FBI director last month and comes after reports that Attorney General Jeff Sessions offered to resign recently amid ongoing friction with Trump. The White House initially cited a letter from Rosenstein as justification for Comey's firing before backtracking a few days later and saying the president was planning to dismiss Comey either way.

Rosenstein could end up being a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. But as deputy AG, he's also technically overseeing the investigation. Still, Democrats, once livid about the letter he wrote about Comey, are "largely shrugging off the potential conflict" and aren't calling for him to step aside, Seung Min and Kyle report this morning. "By tapping the deeply respected Mueller as special counsel, Rosenstein won over most Democratic critics - and calls for him to recuse himself from the Russia probe have dropped off." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a28c17c6b0bff773eb538ac8e61f9f79f120e2cd478ff3cf8f47c756c91481beffd91cc99777bb94da7

Coats' testimony comes after reports that he was asked by Trump in March to intervene in the FBI's probe of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. "After the encounter, Coats discussed the conversation with other officials and decided that intervening with Comey as Trump had suggested would be inappropriate," the Washington Post's Adam Entous reported Tuesday. Trump also separately asked Coats and Rogers in March to publicly deny collusion between Russia and the president's campaign.

I'M ONLY GOING TO SAY THIS ONCE - Other congressional panels, namely the Senate Judiciary Committee, have been itching to get Comey in the hot seat since his firing. But Comey's appearance before the Senate Intel Committee Thursday will be his only public testimony, according to Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the panel's chairman. "I know he accepted our invitation and he expressed that this would be the only public hearing he would hold," Burr told reporters. CNN's Manu Raju, Jeremy Herb and Tom LoBianco with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a2888c1879c6cdce8b20393b038358f687b075e91e42e730a320b48b105c5383c4210dbd14e5ab9cdfb

While still leading the FBI, Comey told Attorney General Sessions he didn't want to be left alone with Trump again following the meeting where the president asked Comey to back off the Flynn investigation, the New York Times' Michael Schmidt and Matt Apuzzo report. And Comey has already talked with Mueller's investigative team ahead of tomorrow's hearing, Josh Dawsey reports.

Grab the popcorn: Trump, rather than be just another viewer of the hearing sure to consume all of Washington Thursday, is instead "spoiling for a fight" and looking to be an "active participant," Robert Costa, Ashley Parker and Philip Rucker report for the Washington Post. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a2864022e7568509bbb3bbcb795e4c1854650bcc7c3b20eb5015f02eec488fb72377b45b4363ae64927

Meanwhile: Michael Flynn handed over more than 600 pages of documents to the Senate Intel Committee Tuesday. CNN: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a2881b371ce0d2f829aa55308c8ab2b727aaa74816d807b164e679bb691c04c1bd4a8d7029c713a0639

OH YEAH, IT'S WEDNESDAY. MIDWEEK, WOOP WOOP! Welcome to June 7 and thanks for reading POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill.

TUESDAY'S MOST READ: Marc Short's comments on the Russia investigation overwhelming the president's agenda, written by Matthew Nussbaum and Bres, was the winner.

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP - Senate Republicans emerged from a two-hour meeting Tuesday feeling more optimistic than they have in weeks about the chamber's chances of passing an Obamacare repeal. The Senate bill is expected to be more generous than the House-passed version, senators say. But it's impossible to know for sure given the proposal is being written behind closed doors and with no committee hearings - something Republicans have repeatedly slammed Democrats over for years after the drafting of Obamacare.


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More good news for Republicans: "On Tuesday, the Senate Budget Committee said the House bill cleared the Senate's stringent reconciliation rules, allowing the House to formally send the bill to the Senate. Otherwise, the House would have had to vote again on a modified bill, further derailing the repeal effort." Burgess, Jen Haberkorn and Adam Cancryn with the story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a28d6c3f936f4f9d628940a11819d39869693634453fae876d984dc04a9cc5fe2a3c91a820c94560cde

But, GOP senators are still deeply divided over what to do with Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, an issue that could derail their repeal efforts, the Wall Street Journal's Kristina Peterson, Stephanie Armour and Louise Radnofsky report. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a2884addede8df6d2c50cb25f7eb59c5678900f8bcf28e94437e00a2732749ecc7e2fce0f70c872b5c0

MULVANEY SIDELINED ON DEBT LIMIT - In his meeting with GOP leaders Tuesday, Trump made clear that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin - not OMB Director Mick Mulvaney - is the administration's point person on raising the debt ceiling. This is key because Mnuchin and Mulvaney have been sending mixed messages publicly about where the administration stands on increasing the debt limit later this summer. Mnuchin has said repeatedly Congress should pass a clean debt limit hike. But Mulvaney has said there should be conditions to raising the debt limit, including fiscal reforms. Ben White, Burgess and Bres with the latest: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a280ede107449fee6fecf10cf3d5e699c958ff733c56fd31bdc602998237c043686f842303f9a295a8b

DEMOCRAT AMPS UP IMPEACHMENT EFFORT - Texas Rep. Al Green is taking his calls for Trump to be removed from office to the next level, drafting articles of impeachment that he plans to discuss at a press conference later today. "Obstruction of justice by the president is the problem," Green (D-Texas) said in a statement announcing his plan late Tuesday. "Impeachment by Congress is the solution." More from your Huddle host: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a28582cb8427934469dbc2a76fd01e28f934e91ef2b41f2731f7c2e0c2956d8b3d0578978aead4b301a

SENATORS PUSH FOR RUSSIA SANCTION VOTE - Senior senators in both parties are intensifying their push for a vote on sanctioning Russia this week, Elana reports. "Leading the charge for considering Russia sanctions during the Senate's Iran debate are Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the source said." The vote, if it happens, would be in the form of an amendment to a bipartisan Iran sanctions bill up for consideration this week. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a281c4bf083d66a05310045b07e613b71ebe2a4afe09b691b53fca528f7691f083e3c5bf475c1dc74f9

SPECIAL ELECTION ROUNDUP - Establishment-backed Jimmy Gomez will replace former California Rep. Xavier Becerra after winning Tuesday's runoff. Gomez, a state assemblyman, beat former L.A. planning commissioner Robert Lee Ahn. The L.A. Times' Christine Mai-Duc: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a28347b71e4c7dbb1030ed86f2ace7f6db531ebb9b9086710a4eed0d29cecda0f4ea8760d15597e8418

-GA-06 latest: "Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel clashed on the debate stage for the first time Tuesday night, sparring face-to-face over their resumes, campaign financing and foreign policy positioning," Elena Schneider reports from Atlanta. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a28e8a66499e64f507b0d3eda2e27b1219d754a503ccd439e42f573f1a8da7c29a940d78306254bc5e0

-A little more time: Montana Rep.-elect Greg Gianforte has asked for a two-week extension on orders to appear in court for misdemeanor assault charges after being accused of body-slamming a reporter on the eve of the election. "The court document said 'the parties are currently exploring a settlement' of the case and that the extension was not opposed by the state," the Missoulian reports. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a2892f210d734a676a8028e0704d15164f12fc9b24f39f8ac56897da24724f467f6160b5ab42a945760

KELLY BUCKING ADMINISTRATION POLICY - DHS Secretary John Kelly will respond to all congressional oversight inquiries sent to the department, bucking a new administration policy directing agencies to ignore requests sent from Democrats. "Regardless of who the letter comes from, and it doesn't have to just come from a ranking member or chairman, we'll respond to any congressional inquiry," Kelly told senators during a hearing Tuesday. Seung Min reports: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a28497f7acb6b3f5cb5b8a24004d9449fad3224649bb55dfa124616c72188470eddd703691d5308d562

WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN - The perennial calls for congressional leaders to cancel August recess have started again, this time with the Freedom Caucus leading the charge. "The group of several dozen conservative hardliners during their weekly meeting took the official position to work through the break, which is quickly drawing near as Republicans scramble to pass President Donald Trump's agenda," Rachael reports after HFC's Tuesday night meeting. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a28575d330be5c3dad297bde4a0126bb9f593f2ad772f7ecc98c10d6b33b4285d0076a8311853ba13ea

WOMEN RULE PODCAST - "It's difficult to be a conservative woman [in politics]." In an exclusive interview with former presidential candidate and business woman, Carly Fiorina sits down with POLITICO editor Carrie Budoff Brown to discuss the unique challenges women face when running for public office.

'Empathy' for Clinton: "I was scrutinized, caricatured, criticized differently than a man would be." Fiorina also shares her thoughts on Hillary Clinton's loss, "...as much as I did not want her to be president of the United States because of her policy positions, I have empathy for Hillary Clinton." And she has one message to President Trump: Stop tweeting. Listen and subscribe: iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher

DOYLE DOESN'T HOLD BACK - Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Doyle, longtime Democratic manager for the annual congressional baseball game, didn't hold back when sizing up his team's chances in next week's match-up. The team even has a backup pitcher - California Rep. Pete Aguilar - if superstar Rep. Cedric Richmond (La.) doesn't pitch the entire game. "Every year, [Richmond] gets a year older, too. We're all getting up in age and last year really pointed out the importance of having a backup pitcher," Doyle told Roll Call. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a289416d24b6e626974a9c73344641a34e27420fecfa967f74e583d537f2a0089e231e8a8efc9f8927a

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES - Ted Lehman has a new gig as chief of staff for Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Ted is currently senior counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Lauren Canfield has a new gig as military LA for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). Lauren has handled defense and foreign policy issues for Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) for the last three years.

Peter Stehouwer has joined Bayer as deputy director for federal relations. He previously worked as legislative director for Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) and prior to that had stints with Michigan GOP Reps. Bill Huizenga and Pete Hoekstra.

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The House meets at 10 a.m. with first votes around 2:15 p.m. and last votes around 5 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ecf8976629606a287e39c5aadcc29db1dd9dd1018d082d2b7dae395d59015c997e14712ea871e92295747da82fd17f96 The Senate convenes at 9:30 a.m. with a procedural vote related to the Iran sanctions bill at 10:30 a.m.

Scheduling update: The House will no longer vote on Friday, as previously scheduled. The chamber's last votes of the week will take place Thursday afternoon.

AROUND THE HILL - House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other GOP leaders hold a press event after their weekly conference meeting at 10 a.m. in HC-8.

House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Reps. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) and Denny Heck (D-Wash.) hold a 10:30 a.m. press conference in HVC Studio A following the Democrats' weekly meeting. Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.) hold an 11 a.m. press conference in the House triangle on Christian and Yazidi genocide survivors.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds his pen and pad at 12:15 p.m. in H-144. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) participates in a 1 p.m. conference call with the ACLU on immigration and the status of Dreamers under the Trump administration.

Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Peter King (R-N.Y.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) introduce legislation aimed at preventing child heatstroke auto deaths at 1 p.m. in the Rayburn foyer. Speaker Ryan and Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War and the reunification of Jerusalem at 2 p.m. in the CVC auditorium.

Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) holds a 2 p.m. press conference in HVC Studio B to explain why he is drafting articles of impeachment against President Trump. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) hold on 2 p.m. press conference in the House triangle of the USDA Wildlife Services' use of poisons on public and private land.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) along with Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) hold a press conference on the CPC's alternative fiscal 2018 budget at 3 p.m. in the House triangle.

Speaker Ryan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Maria Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Norma Torres (D-Calif.) speak at the National Endowment for Democracy awards starting at 5 p.m. in HVC-201.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Ann Kuster and Carol Shea-Porter hold the eighth annual "Experience New Hampshire" reception at 5 p.m. in 325 Russell.

TUESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Logan Ferree was the first to guess that Albert Gallatin was a representative, senator, the longest serving Treasury secretary and took part in the Whiskey Rebellion.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Logan with today's question: Who was the first member of the U.S. Cabinet born overseas but outside of Europe or a former/current European colony? Send answers my way: hcaygle@politico.com

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