Trump advisers question Muellera s impartiality in Russian probe

Some of President Donald Trump's closest allies - including one of his sons - have begun questioning whether Robert Mueller's wide-ranging probe is becoming too political, as the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election intensifies. Leading Republican legislators on Tuesday waved off the idea of firing Mueller, but a public effort to muddy the waters surrounding the investigation comes amid growing White House concern that the probe could detract from the president's agenda.

Trump allies now question Mueller probe, even those who endorsed him

Then Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert Mueller testifies during a 2013 hearing of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Donald Trump is considering firing Mueller, the special counsel investigating if Russia colluded in last year's bitter election campaign, a friend of the president said Monday.

Tillerson faces strong pushback on diplomatic budget cuts

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson faced harsh bipartisan criticism on Tuesday as he tried to defend the Trump administration's proposed slashing of America's diplomatic and foreign aid budget. Testifying before two Senate committees, Tillerson faced tough questions about the administration's proposal to cut funding for the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development by more than 31 percent in the fiscal year beginning in October.

Jeff Sessions denies – false and scurrilous Russia allegations’

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has heatedly denied that he had any undisclosed meeting with the Russian ambassador or conversations with Russian officials about the US elections. Testifying at a Senate hearing, Mr Sessions said it was a "detestable and appalling lie" to suggest that he participated in or was aware of any collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Kamala Harris Once Again Interrupted By Male Colleagues During Senate Hearing

Sen. Kamala Harris was cut off by two of her male colleagues while questioning Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday, just one week after they interrupted her during a different hearing. During Sessions' testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee , Harris asked him to explain what Justice Department policy prevented him from answering some questions from the committee's members, and whether he had discussed that policy with his staff prior to the hearing.

In First, White Person Not Eager To Talk About Mayflower

Like what you read below? Sign up for HUFFPOST HILL and get a cheeky dose of political news every evening! and we're going to go ahead and give his appearance three-out-of-four Dainty White Glove Slapsa on HuffPost's patented Southern Gentry Outrage SystemA . On that note, Washington hasn't been this preoccupied by ; we're old enough to remember when politics worked and lawmakers simply body-slammed reporters rather than take official action against them.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions heatedly denies improper Russia contacts

Attorney General Jeff Sessions gestures as he testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing about his role in the firing of James Comey, his Russian contacts during the campaign and his decision to recuse from an investigation into possible ties between Moscow and associates of President Donald Trump. WASHINGTON >> Attorney General Jeff Sessions heatedly denied on Tuesday having an undisclosed meeting with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. or conversations with any Russian officials about the U.S. election that sent Donald Trump to the White House.

U.S. Senate panel sets goals for autonomous vehicle deployment

Senate Commerce Committee leaders on Tuesday said safety, reducing roadblocks to innovation, and clarifying federal and state regulatory roles are among the chief goals they will follow when drafting legislation covering autonomous vehicles in coming weeks. "Self-driving vehicles will not only dramatically change how we get from place to place, they have the potential to prevent accidents and save thousands of lives," Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who is spearheading the effort along with Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., and ranking member Bill Nelson of Florida, said in a statement.

Electoral cyberattack, Paxton’s new judge, American’s leg room: Your Tuesday evening news roundup

Russia's cyberattack on the U.S. electoral system before Donald Trump's election was far more widespread than has been publicly revealed , including incursions into voter databases and software systems in almost twice as many states as previously reported. In Illinois, investigators found evidence that cyber intruders tried to delete or alter voter data.

Chaffetz out as Oversight chairman as Trey Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor, steps in

As he prepares to leave the U.S. House at month's end, Rep. Jason Chaffetz is no longer chairman of one of the more powerful and high-profile committees in Congress. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., was installed Tuesday as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, taking over a perch that Chaffetz had worked hard to obtain but is now leaving as part of his resignation from office.

The Latest: Trump says new health care law will be a kinda

President Donald Trump is having lunch with Republican senators to discuss the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Trump said President Barack Obama's health care law "had been broken and it's been a broken promise."

Trump Considering Firing Special Counsel? Just Another Example Of Stirring The Pot

The CEO of the right-wing website Newsmax, a close friend of Trump's, has been making the media rounds saying President Trump is considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the Department of Justice investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. "I think he's considering perhaps terminating the special counsel," Ruddy told PBS NewsHour Monday night, though he went on to say he thinks, personally, it would be a bad idea.

Mnuchina s Dodd-Frank reform advice fires up Sen. Warren, Dems

A new U.S. Treasury Department report is lighting a fire under Democrats, particularly Wall Street watchdog Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who said Tuesday recommendations to weaken parts of Dodd-Frank, an Obama-era financial law, are "radical." "This report calls for radical changes that would make it easier for big banks to cheat their customers and spark another financial meltdown.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testified before a Senate subcommittee Tuesday morning.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said Tuesday that even if President Trump told him to fire Robert Mueller as special counsel overseeing the Department of Justice investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, he would not follow the order unless he thought there was good cause. The statement came after Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, asked Rosenstein during an open Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing what he would do if Trump asked him to fire Mueller.

Remember Trump’s Promise Not to Touch Social Security? It’s Gone Now

Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said something of potentially very high significance that received no attention whatsoever. At a House subcommittee hearing, Mnuchin very casually walked away from Donald Trump's long-standing promise never to touch Social Security benefits.

The Latest: Trump says new health care law will be ‘kind’

From left are, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Sen.... . Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa listen at right as President Donald Trump speaks in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 13, 2017, before having lunch with Republican Senators.

Things to know about Jeff Sessions on Senate hearing testimony day

Attorney General Jeff Sessions steps back into a familiar arena Tuesday when he testifies before the Senate intelligence committee about his role in the firing of FBI Director James Comey and the investigation into contacts between Trump campaign associates and Russia. Last week, Comey raised additional questions about Sessions' involvement, saying the FBI knew of reasons why it would be problematic for the attorney general to stay involved in the Russia investigation well before Sessions recused himself in March.