Overnight Defense: Iran crisis eases as Trump says Tehran ‘standing down’ | Dems unconvinced on evidence behind Soleimani strike | House sets Thursday vote on Iran war powers

Happy Wednesday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Rebecca Kheel, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.

 

THE TOPLINE: Tensions with Iran appear to be easing for now after the crisis seemed to reach a fever pitch Tuesday night.

Tuesday’s missile attack on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops did not kill or injure any Americans, and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif made clear the attack would be the extent of Iran’s retaliation for the death of Gen. Qassem Soleimani if the United States didn’t fire back.

So Trump, addressing the nation Wednesday morning, took the off-ramp.

In his prepared remarks Trump claimed Tehran is “standing down.”

He said the administration would impose additional economic sanctions on Tehran, called on European allies to play a larger role in ensuring stability in the region and appealed to Iranian leaders to work with the U.S. on “shared priorities.”

“The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it,” Trump said.

The big picture: Trump’s tone on Wednesday was a welcome development for his allies on Capitol Hill. His words appeased hawkish Republicans who had celebrated the strike against Soleimani, while not further risking a break with his “America First” campaign rhetoric of ending U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.

More from The Hill’s Brett Samuels and Morgan Chalfant on how Trump found an off-ramp in the Iran crisis.

Congress gets briefed: Later Wednesday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, CIA Director Gina Haspel and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley descended on Capitol Hill to brief lawmakers on the Soleimani strike.

After the briefings, Democrats said the Trump administration failed to present evidence supporting the claim that Soleimani was planning an imminent attack.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said the evidence represented a “far cry” from an imminent attack, while Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) called the briefing “sophomoric.”

“I was utterly unpersuaded about any evidence about the imminence of a threat that was new or compelling,” Connolly said.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said the administration did not provide clarity on a potential attack and questioned why they were withholding information from Congress.

“I walk away unsatisfied in the key questions that I went into this briefing with, and it just makes me concerned that we cannot have clarity on those key questions — imminency, target, all of those things,” Menendez said.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said the administration “did not establish in any way” that “an imminent threat was posed.” Asked whether she was convinced, presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said flatly “no.”

Republicans disagree: Republicans have backed up the Trump administration’s assessment of Soleimani’s threat and walked away from Wednesday briefing saying the evidence was clear.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-Okla.) said the evidence was “crystal clear,” adding that Democrats used the briefing to “question these people’s judgment on something that really shouldn’t have been questioned.”

“One of the things that came out of all of this is the tremendous hate and vitriol against this president, which is really coloring a lot of these people’s judgement on the defense of this country,” he added.

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said the administration did not give many details at the briefing on the plot itself, but described a timing “that would have made it imminent.”

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said he was “persuaded that we had strong intelligence that meant we had to take action.”

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said the briefing showed Soleimani was a “clear and present danger.”

Lee, Paul rip briefing: GOP Sens. Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.) ripped the administration over the briefing, announcing they will now support a resolution reining in Trump’s military powers.

Lee characterized it as “the worst briefing I’ve seen, at least on a military issue.”

Lee said the officials warned that Congress would “embolden” Iran if lawmakers debated Trump’s war powers.

“I find this insulting and demeaning … to the office that each of the 100 senators in this building happens to hold. I find it insulting and demeaning to the Constitution of the United States,” Lee said.

Lee did not say which briefer made the assertion but specified that no administration representative contradicted them. He added that he was going to have a “conversation” with Trump about the remarks.

“I find that absolutely insane. I think that’s unacceptable,” Lee added.

Paul added that he found the briefing “less than satisfying” and knocked the administration for using the 2002 war authorization as the basis for last week’s airstrike against an Iranian general.

House to vote on war powers: The House will vote Thursday on a resolution to limit Trump’s ability to take future military action against Iran without congressional authorization, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Wednesday afternoon after the briefing.

The resolution directs the president to end the use of U.S. armed forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran unless Congress has formally authorized it or if there is an “imminent armed attack upon the United States.” It was introduced on Wednesday by freshman Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), a former CIA analyst who served three tours in Iraq and represents a competitive district.

“Members of Congress have serious, urgent concerns about the Administration’s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward. Our concerns were not addressed by the President’s insufficient War Powers Act notification and by the Administration’s briefing today,” Pelosi said.

 

IMPEACHMENT LATEST: Democratic senators are growing impatient over the delayed start of Trump’s impeachment trial and some say it’s time for Pelosi to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

Democratic lawmakers in the upper chamber say Pelosi has achieved her goal of putting a spotlight on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) opposition to witness testimony and they’re ready to start hearing House impeachment managers and Trump’s defense team make their arguments.

“Time plays an unknown role in all of this, and the longer it goes on, the less the urgency becomes. So if it’s serious and urgent, it should come over. If it isn’t, don’t send it over,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), the top-ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.

Asked if colleagues are starting to get impatient, Feinstein said, “If it’s going to happen, yes,” referring to the likelihood of a trial actually taking place.

“I’m not a big fan of impeachment but I think there’s enough to take a good look, and we should,” she said.

Feinstein said she doesn’t have “any sense” when the trial may start and neither do her colleagues.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said he’s ready to get the trial started.

“As far as I’m concerned, she can send them over at any time. I’m fine with that,” he said.

 

ON TAP FOR TOMORROW

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) will speak at an Atlantic Council event on U.S.-Iran tensions at 2 p.m. https://bit.ly/2FxUiAB

 

ICYMI

— The Hill: Trump rips Obama’s Iran policy in address to nation

— The Hill: NATO agrees to up contribution in ‘fight against international terrorism’ after Iran missile attacks

— The Hill: Senators see off-ramp from Iran tensions after Trump remarks

— The Hill: Army warning of fake texts telling people they’ve been drafted

— The Hill: FBI, DHS issue bulletin warning of potential Iranian cyberattacks

— The Hill: Opinion: Withdrawal from Iraq would dangerously undermine American national security

— The Hill: Opinion: Trump’s strike will not save Iran’s hardliners