When asked if he would read the currently unreleased pages into the congressional record, Paul demurred and said "we're going to try the normal legislative procedure first and see how that goes".
It's only the first couple of weeks of 2015, but the year may as well be over: with the 2016 presidential and congressional elections looming, Republicans are pushing full steam ahead on economy and jobs in an attempt to improve their chances at capturing the White House next year.
But Clancy has so far weathered congressional criticism, despite having spent only three of the past 30 years away from the agency while working as Comcast security chief in Philadelphia.
Early reports suggest that in his testimony to a congressional committee today, General David Petraeus will claim that the Iranians assisted the Mahdi Army militia to fight the forces of Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki in the recent week-long battle in Basra.
He participated in protests and congressional hearings and appeared on national television frequently.
In a break with protocol, the invitation for Netanyahu to speak was orchestrated by Republican congressional leaders without input from the White House or State Department, angering senior administration officials who believe it was politically motivated.
Holes in security at the consulate have been the subject of an internal government investigation at the State Department and a congressional inquiry.
Planned congressional hearings on the Benghazi incident will continue as planned with CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell filling in for Petraeus as acting director.
Walker and Jindal mounted sharp attacks on the Republican congressional leadership, who, they warned, are on the verge of backing down in a high-stakes play on Capitol Hill to block immigration reform.
Congressional staff involved in refining the USA Freedom Act since it last passed the House by 303 votes to 121 in May 2014 believe various revisions since have made the bill palatable enough to security hawks in the Senate, though expect possible amendments in the days ahead.
Liberals in Washington welcomed Summers' shock departure from the race, which is the latest congressional setback for an Obama administration that is rapidly losing support even from its own party.
