WASHINGTON—Russia week round two hit Capitol Hill on Tuesday when one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, defended himself before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

During the presidential campaign, Sessions was the first senator to endorse Trump and he became one of his closest and most influential advisers. Sessions traveled with Trump on the campaign trial, spoke on his behalf, and helped shape his strategies on national security and foreign policy.

If anyone would know whether Trump colluded with the Russians to rig the election, it would be Sessions.

And the attorney general didn’t mince his words when asked about it.

“The suggestion that I participated in any collusion or that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honor for over 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie,” Sessions said, his voice filled with emotion.

Sessions was one of Trump’s first Cabinet appointees, and the Senate confirmed the former Alabama senator on Feb. 9. He told the Senate Intelligence Committee he knew from his first day on the job his connections with Trump’s campaign might conflict with the Department of Justice’s ongoing investigation into Russian election interference. He said he began meeting with ethics officials on Feb. 10 to determine the most appropriate course of action. He recused himself from the Russia probe a month later, but on Tuesday Sessions said he effectively recused himself as soon as he took office.

In other words: Sessions says he knows nothing about Russia, never knew anything about Russia, and never sought to learn details about the Russian investigation.

On Tuesday, senators generally accepted these facts but pressed Sessions on his private conversations with Trump and his role in firing FBI Director James Comey, who was in charge of the DOJ’s Russia probe until Trump ousted him last month.

Sessions refused to confirm he privately spoke with Trump about the Russia investigation and would not say what they talked about regarding Comey. He said he would not claim executive privilege because that power belongs solely to the president, insisting his reticence simply follows longstanding DOJ protocol to protect discussions with the commander-in-chief.

“I cannot and will not violate my duty to protect confidential communications with the president,” Sessions said.

Democrats accused him of impeding the investigation.

A little more than 24-hours after Sessions left the hot seat, The Washington Post released another harsh report, claiming Robert Mueller, the new special counsel on the Russia probe, is exploring whether Trump attempted to obstruct justice. The Post claims, based on anonymous sources, the inquiry began a few days after the president fired Comey.

Trump responded this morning: “They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice,” he wrote on Twitter. “You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history—led by some very bad and conflicted people!”

‘It would have been a massacre’

The annual baseball bout between House Republicans and Democrats will continue tonight as planned, despite Wednesday’s shooting during the GOP team’s practice. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., remains in critical condition at a Washington hospital after undergoing several surgeries for a gunshot wound to the hip.

President Donald Trump made a surprise visit to the hospital Wednesday night and on Thursday described Scalise as more seriously injured than previously thought. The bullet fractured bones and injured internal organs, causing severe bleeding. Trump said Scalise was “in some trouble.” Matt Mika, a former congressional staffer who now works for Tyson Foods, also remains in critical condition after suffering several gunshot wounds in the chest and arm.

Attacker James T. Hodgkinson shot four people in all, but the casualty count could have been far worse. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said if not for Scalise’s security detail, everyone on the field would have been defenseless.

“Everybody would’ve died except for the fact that Capitol Hill police were there,” Paul said. “Had they not been there, it would have been a massacre.”

Despite initial bipartisan unity after the shooting, the response soon fractured along party lines. Hodgkinson was a longtime critic of Republicans, and in a March Facebook post, he wrote, “It’s Time to Destroy Trump & Co.” Hodgkinson also volunteered on Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 political campaign. Sanders said he was “sickened” that someone who volunteered for his campaign could carry out such a despicable act.

Some Republicans suggested the left’s political rhetoric might have fueled Hodgkinson’s vengeful rage. On Thursday, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., lashed out at anyone who made such suggestions, calling them “outrageous” and “beneath the dignity” of the House.

“How dare they say such a thing, how dare they,” she added.

But Democrats also used the incident to make some political hay, touting the need for more gun control.

“I have long advocated—this is not what today is about—but there are too many guns on the streets,” Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said. He added, “I have long talked about this—background checks and shutting down gun show loopholes. And that’s not for today’s discussion, but it’s not just about politicians. We worry about this every day for all of our citizens.” —E.W.

Conservatives weigh in on healthcare

Forty-five of Washington’s most prominent activist groups delivered a letter to congressional leaders on Tuesday, asking Republicans to ensure all Obamacare’s taxes bite the dust.

The letter asks Senate Finance Committee chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, not to compromise while drafting a Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.

“Recent media reports suggest that the Senate may be wavering on repeal of these taxes,” Americans for Tax Reform, Club for Growth, FreedomWorks, and other groups wrote. “This would be a mistake.”

Conservative groups have been extremely active during healthcare negotiations. Many criticized the House package, which narrowly passed last month, for being “Obamacare-lite.”

This week, President Donald Trump invited 13 senators to discuss the status of the Obamacare repeal process. The letter from conservative groups underscores the need for Republicans to follow through with their promise to restructure the nation’s healthcare system. If they fail, it could permanently scar their relationship with many crucial groups—not to mention voters. —E.W.

Speaking of healthcare …

How about making sure it’s pro-life?

That’s what a group of 70 lawmakers asked Wednesday. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., helped draft a new letter delivered to GOP Senate leaders asking them to ensure whatever healthcare plan they submit doesn’t promote abortion.

“The bottom line is that abortion is not healthcare,” Lamborn said. “Any legislation ought to explicitly prohibit funding for these sources to avoid creating dangerous loopholes that allow taxpayer funds to pay for abortions unwittingly.”

The American Health Care Act, passed by the House, defunds Planned Parenthood for one year and prohibits refundable tax credits from paying for abortions. The Senate is still working on its healthcare proposal. —E.W.

Neck-and-neck in Georgia

With less than a week to go in Georgia’s 6th District special election, polls show no margin for error.

A new poll has Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff dead even in the race to replace Tom Price, who vacated the seat when President Donald Trump appointed him to head the Health and Human Services Department.

Ossoff and Handel both poll at 47 percent, with 6 percent of voters still undecided. As of Friday, more than 75,000 early votes had been cast and the poll showed those voters favored Ossoff by 19 points. Voting ends June 20.

Republicans have controlled Georgia’s 6th District since 1978 but large campaign donations and Trump backlash have made the race fiercely competitive. Money continues to pour in on both sides, and it already is the nation’s most expensive House election in history, with more than $35 million spent collectively.

People far outside Atlanta’s northern suburbs care about the outcome of this race. More than 96 percent of Ossoff’s dollars and 78 percent of Handel’s came from outside Georgia, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. —E.W.