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06/13/2017 08:03 AM EDT


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

With assists from Elana Schor and Burgess Everett

SENATE INTEL TO GRILL SESSIONS TODAY - Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee this afternoon, less than a week after former FBI Director James Comey's highly anticipated hearing before the panel last Thursday. Today's hearing is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. It's unclear whether Sessions will invoke executive privilege during the questioning, but either way the AG is not expected to reveal any details about his private conversations with President Donald Trump, Tara Palmeri and Josh Gerstein report.

Sessions will face a barrage of questions related to the ongoing Russia investigation, including any previously unreported contacts he had with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Sessions will also be grilled about the role he played in Trump's decision to fire Comey, despite recusing himself from the Russia probe in March. And it's likely the AG will be questioned about whether he took steps to shield Comey after the then-FBI director told Sessions he didn't want to be alone with Trump anymore after being pressured by the president on the Russia probe.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH, via Seung Min: 1. Will Sessions invoke executive privilege to avoid answering questions about Trump? 2. Will there be answers about what Comey found so "problematic," as he testified last week, that he intentionally didn't loop Sessions in on conversations with Trump about Michael Flynn? 3. Exactly how far-reaching is Sessions' recusal from the Russia probe? 4. What's the impact on the already strained relationship between Trump and Sessions? 5. How will Republicans treat their former longtime colleague? Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66b130020f1ee71fbffbb3e3907d5e77c7d51622500434d5a716d070fa66f26b651b33a287b918da2aa201e6f3f2f63f5ae

GOP TO TRUMP: LEAVE MUELLER ALONE - Republicans are warning Trump not to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, even as allies of the president continue to float the idea. "It would be a disaster," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) "There's no reason to fire Mueller. What's he done to be fired?" Even some of Trump's closest allies in Congress are warning against nixing the Mueller probe, Austin and Kyle report. "I think Bob Mueller's as good as you're going to find. I don't see any reason to remove him now," said Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.). More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66b52f1aaeaa8abf537671fc8d37693421d7262df84f0957af76b24d6d32a63b388269356fccb53140b02d7f21891c63f45

And via Manu Raju this morning: "Paul Ryan tells @hughhewitt that Trump shouldn't fire Mueller. 'I think he should let Bob Mueller do his job, do his job independently.'"

SENATORS REACH SANCTIONS DEAL - Senior senators in both parties reached a bipartisan agreement on Russian sanctions Monday night in what Elana reports is the most significant GOP-backed constraint on the Trump White House so far. The agreement, which is teed up for a key procedural vote Wednesday, would codify existing sanctions, impose new sanctions and allow congressional review of any attempts by Trump to lift or waive current sanctions against the Kremlin. Elana with the deets: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66b1a1fa86522c20e921544156d4e326c1e456b3114accd4a8f2c4070bfed4f4752a644215635a9e106759159e06f0f77fe

Senate's Saudi Cliffhanger: Before the Senate takes up its bipartisan Russia sanctions deal, however, the chamber plans to vote today on an attempt by Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) to block about $500 million of weapons sales to Saudi Arabia included in what the White House claims is a $110 billion package. Paul and Murphy are taking aim specifically at offensive weapons sales that humanitarian groups warn are likely to end up used in Yemen's violent civil war, which is drawing Saudi Arabia and Iran into a proxy battle.

And they're likely to come much closer to victory than many had expected, as Elana reported recently, thanks to support from Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other senior Democrats who had refrained from blocking Saudi sales during the Obama years.

WELCOME TO TUESDAY, JUNE 13. Thanks for reading POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill.

MONDAY'S MOST READ: You guys were digging Kyle and Bres' story detailing plans for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to testify today.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) still hopes to hold an Obamacare repeal vote before the July 4th recess, saying failure to reach an agreement "is not an option." But some Republican senators are growing wary of such a tight timeline, particularly as major outstanding issues remain unresolved. And even McConnell's top lieutenants are backing away from the Independence Day recess as a hard deadline.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 3 GOP leader, said the June vote time frame is "an aspiration" but not a hard deadline, Burgess reports. And Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) told Burgess "next month" is his prediction. "I just think it's something we have to do before we leave for August," Cornyn added.

Obamacare quote du jour: "It's like having a baby," Cornyn said. "It's not here yet, but it's coming." Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66bcbc510911cea8ff300f2fae69d4dbde8340e1e6fb75f1a7737b1fd9277ad49a7d1a2a30c2fc8b6e7cc50891cdcee8e02

** A message from the American Sports Betting Coalition: We're bringing together leaders in law enforcement, business, and government to advocate for ending the federal ban on sports betting. Help empower the states and bring the fans what they want! **

Lunchtime happenings, via Playbook: Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will have lunch at the White House today with 13 senators key to the Senate's Obamacare repeal. The invite list: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66b6e5843229577765a65d378034ffbd7f31bced95d1f0e886f3f82332c5ae8ed91f5b14a9f018bfbdd9ea698289233bb35

MORNING JOE (MANCHIN) - Jane Sanders' photo with Joe Manchin's primary opponent, Paula Swearengin, is causing a stir in West Virginia and Washington, D.C. But one person wasn't surprised: Manchin himself. In fact, Manchin said in an interview that he doesn't even expect Bernie Sanders to support him in his primary. "I would expect it," Manchin said of the episode. "I don't expect [his support]. I don't expect anyone to support me. I just ask the people of West Virginia to support me." Awkward: The two both serve in the Democratic leadership. The photo: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66b79fcb21bbb4c3d8c15543d4ff4aa9f4d2021e34b09620217816cc9bc823ca2e5d944633ef6e432b7fb0fd0249102cad7

GIANFORTE AVOIDS JAIL TIME - Rep.-elect Greg Gianforte was sentenced to 40 hours of community service and 20 hours of anger management Monday after pleading guilty to assaulting Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs last month. Gianforte took questions after his court appearance but didn't address the statement his spokesman put out right after the scuffle falsely blaming Jacobs. Whitney Bermes with the Bozeman Daily Chronicle: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66bf3aa983eb8b29a8247c8a64b7da446bc8952a869e572edb8525a4ec8a3ca65d70af8cff6192c0ababb7904a0fc7280df

SHERMAN THREATENS IMPEACHMENT DEBATE - Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) on Monday started circulating a draft article of impeachment against Trump, even saying he might bring the resolution up for debate on the House floor. Sherman wouldn't definitively say whether he'd push for a floor debate over the objections of his party leaders (who have avoided impeachment talk), only saying he'd first consult with top Democrats and colleagues on the issue. An aide later told Huddle not to expect a privileged resolution until baseball season is over and "we haven't even reached the All Star game yet." Yours truly with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66bc5b7cca1b88f399499c153ad7c751c014602e572564315879fb5a89b2e4d6fe2e0c068f31360860837a280a353b5d78e

AFP TARGETS DEMS ON TAX REFORM - Conservative group Americans for Prosperity is launching a new $300,000 ad buy aimed at pressuring at least a half-dozen vulnerable Democratic senators to work with Republicans on tax reform, Burgess reports. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66b0f8058726abb9803203991514e7d5dd9101000c4b31c2dea4ad1e5504c0df9a88fc9d0fb3651ecb9f0678679bd6fe727

SCOUTING REPORT - Ahead of Thursday night's congressional baseball game, Roll Call's Alex Gangitano checked in with both teams to see how they're shaping up. The best part of the video is getting to check out everybody's practice outfits. Republicans won last year's game, breaking Democrats' seven-year winning streak. "Oh absolutely I think we're going to win," predicted Illinois GOP Rep. Rodney Davis. "I thought we were going to win every single game we've played and I've been right once." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66bc1024eaf9e8d024d120b7f512580a382c07826ddde78df249d03aed38d5f1db7e7c74fec0539ba4aedc0e499c6ef9535

HOUSE PANEL CONSIDERS SILENCER BILL - The House Natural Resources Committee will begin consideration this week of a proposal from Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) that would make it easier to buy gun silencers. "It's the first such hearing to directly raise gun rights issues since Trump won the White House last year," Bres reports. Duncan held a silencer demonstration at the Capitol Police shooting range in the Rayburn building last week. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66b99a270b08b5cd1e8b90ea93426a05b8d9bf97fac7910f17e613efedea8614e343195426eae09faad1569f9298e0c70a9

DEPARTURE LOUNGE - Clint Lohse has a new gig as director of government relations for defense firm Bramer Group. Clint previously worked as a legislative assistant for Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.).

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The House meets at 10 a.m. with first votes around 1:30 p.m. and last votes around 4:15 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e0c704ddbad1b66b3931f86fce5161eb7fe0ebf199a8360325e978f60d10a86f4866a90765d80a577f781f117963d55d85ddbf63b5a279e9 The Senate meets at 10 a.m., will recess for weekly caucus lunches from 12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. and will hold a roll call vote at 2:15 p.m. The chamber is continuing consideration of an Iran sanctions bill and a Russian sanctions amendment.

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

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) and Vice Chair Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) hold a press conference following Democrats' weekly meeting at 10:15 a.m. in HVC Studio B. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds a pen and pad at 11 a.m. in H-144.

Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) and David Cicilline (D-R.I.) discuss their bill to combat anti-LGBT violence at 11 a.m. in the House triangle. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), John Kennedy (R-La.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announce new flood insurance legislation at 12 p.m. in the Senate studio.

Vice President Mike Pence will be on the Hill today, joining Senate Republicans for their weekly caucus lunch at 1 p.m. and meeting with lawmakers after. House Veterans Affairs Chairman Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) and other GOP members hold a press conference on their VA accountability bill around 5 p.m. in the Rayburn Room.

OFF MESSAGE PODCAST: "We, as a party, need to understand what happened," Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe says in the latest episode of Off Message. "My advice would be to Hillary, 'There's enough people that will do that and get that information out.'" McAuliffe sits down with Isaac Dovere in a wide-ranging chat that covers his disappointment with the 2016 election, Russia's efforts to interfere in American politics, efforts to reform the criminal justice system, and women's and LGBTQ rights. Listen and subscribe: iTunes | Panoply | Stitcher

MONDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Andrew Olmem gets the prize for guessing Felix Frankfurter is the last Supreme Court justice to be born outside of the United States. Frankfurter, who served on the highest court from 1939 until 1962, was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary in 1882.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Andrew with today's question: This president was nominated to be a justice on the Supreme Court but declined to serve on grounds that he was too partisan to be a proper jurist. Send answers my way: hcaygle@politico.com

Live at 8:20am: Pro Health Care Briefing: Medicaid as a Driver of Care Innovation in the States - As the discussion on the future of health care in America plays out on the national stage, states are trying to find innovative solutions to health care delivery system reform. Join POLITICO's live event convening experts and leading voices from around the country to discuss how states are reshaping Medicaid to deliver more value to patients and taxpayers, no matter the future of the Affordable Care Act. Livestream begins at 8:20 a.m. here.

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