1/ The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to approve William Barr’s nomination to become attorney general and succeed Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker. All 12 Republicans on the panel voted for Barr, while all 10 Democrats voted against him. Democrats cited an unsolicited memo Barr wrote last year to Rod Rosenstein objecting to the obstruction of justice aspect of the Mueller probe was “fatally misconceived� and that “Mueller should not be permitted to demand that the President submit to interrogation about alleged obstruction.� Barr also argued that Trump firing James Comey, and before that asking Comey to stop the investigation into Michael Flynn were within his powers as head of the executive branch. A final vote on Barr’s nomination in the full Senate is expected next week. (ABC News / CNN / Reuters / NPR)

2/ Whitaker won’t testify before the House Judiciary Committee unless he receives a written assurance that he won’t be served with a subpoena. Whitaker’s threat came after the committee voted to give Chairman Jerry Nadler the authority to subpoena Whitaker for testimony if he didn’t appear or answer questions at Friday’s planned oversight hearing. Democrats have until 6 p.m. today to respond. (CNN / Washington Post / Axios / Globe and Mail / New York Times)

3/ The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight met to examine the process for obtaining Trump’s tax returns. One law they’re looking at from 1924 allows the chairman of the tax-writing subcommittee to privately review anyone’s tax returns. Once they secure the documents, the committee would need a majority vote in order to release them to the public. (ABC News)

4/ Trump complained about the wave of oversight investigations into his administration launched by the new Democratic majority in the House, claiming that he’s being subjected to “unlimited presidential harassment� that “Never happened before!� to previous presidents. Trump tweeted that there was “no reason� for the House Intelligence Committee to open an investigation into whether his decision-making as president is motivated by financial gain, while calling Adam Schiff a “political hack.� (Politico / NBC News / New York Times)

Trump is reportedly “furious� at Schiff for trying to hire White ...