TREASURY MISSES DEADLINE ON TRUMP’S TAX RETURNS -- Barr thinks FBI spied on Trump campaign -- GOP TRIES TO REEL IN TRUMP AFTER DHS SHAKEUP -- Michael Grimm seeks support for congressional comeback Presented by

TAX TIME -- It’s official: the Treasury Department has missed a Wednesday deadline from House Democrats to hand over President Donald Trump’s tax returns, with Secretary Steven Mnuchin saying he needs more time to consider the request. Trump himself was even more blunt, telling reporters earlier in the day: “I won’t do it.”

While the White House was not expected to comply with the Democratic demands, the blown deadline significantly ratchets up the stakes in the brewing legal battle between Congress and the executive branch. Now, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) must decide if and when to pull the trigger on a subpoena. "I will consult with counsel and determine the appropriate response to the commissioner in the coming days,” he said in a statement.

Democrats worry that the legal fight could take months, if not longer, to get resolved. That means lawmakers — and the public — may not be able to learn about what is in the president’s tax filings until after the 2020 election. The administration, meanwhile, has every incentive to stall the issue, in hopes that Republicans can win back the House in next year’s elections. Much more from Brian Faler: https://politi.co/2v0hDFX .

Related read: “How Rep. John Lewis Quashed A Progressive Revolt Over A Controversial IRS Measure,” by Matt Fuller and Arthur Delaney of the Huffington Post: http://bit.ly/2UMxK8x .

I SPY -- In his second day of hearings on Capitol Hill, Attorney General William Barr made a startling assertion: he believes that “spying did occur” in the FBI's probe of the Trump campaign. The suggestion has long been a rallying cry for Trump and his allies, and the new backup from Barr will no doubt be music to Trump’s ears. But Democrats are furious with Barr, accusing him of drinking the “Kool-Aid” and noting that he is directly contradicting past statements by the DOJ.

Other nuggets: Barr clarified that Congress will get Robert Mueller’s full report sometime next week. But he also made another significant statement that is getting less attention: Barr said that redactions to protect the reputations and privacy of “peripheral third parties” would not apply to the president, only to private citizens. Andrew with the dispatch: https://politi.co/2Uv4sfb .

Related read: “AP Interview: Pelosi: ‘I don’t trust Barr; I trust Mueller,’” by the AP’s Lisa Mascaro: http://bit.ly/2P39Ksx .

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, April 11, where your host spies with her little eye: Chrissy Teigen wearing a pin of Nancy Pelosi's viral "sunglasses moment" at the House Democratic retreat.

WEDNESDAY’S MOST CLICKED: The Texas Tribune’s report on the DCCC setting up shop in Texas was the big winner.

A message from Chevron: To reduce the carbon intensity of our operations, we’ve spent over $1 billion building one of the world’s largest integrated carbon capture and storage facilities, capable of capturing up to 4 million tons a year. Learn more.

GOP, TAKE THE WHEEL -- Republicans publicly pushed back against the president’s controversial purge of top DHS officials, just the latest example of the GOP seeking to contain the president. Now, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is encouraging Republicans to head off problematic nominees — from hard-liners at DHS to controversial picks at the Federal Reserve — before the president officially announces them. While Republicans have grown more comfortable criticizing the president, it’s unclear just how far they are willing to go to rein him in. Burgess and Eliana Johnson with the latest: https://politi.co/2Ug3MFO .

Related: “White House eyeing former head of anti-immigration group for DHS job,” by Ted Hesson, Anita Kumar and Andrew Restuccia: https://politi.co/2uXAQIj .

MEDICARE VOTE FOR ALL -- McConnell is considering putting the progressives’ “Medicare for All” bill on the Senate floor, drawing on a similar tactic he used to expose Democratic divisions over the Green New Deal resolution. The idea is to put every lawmaker, including 2020 hopefuls, on the record over the issue. Most Democrats, however, ended up protesting the climate change “show” vote by voting present. But Democrats may be more eager to show support for the health care bill, which is an actual piece of legislation sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and is a chief priority for the left. Marianne, Adam Cancryn and Alice Miranda Ollstein with the dispatch: https://politi.co/2UuKl0V .

Related: “Sanders vows to blow up Senate rules to pass Medicare for All,” by Burgess: https://politi.co/2IrFwyc ; and “Lawmakers in Both Parties Vow to Rein In Insulin Costs,” via NYT’s Robert Pear: https://nyti.ms/2X1DLvx .

GRIMM IT TO WIN IT -- Michael Grimm returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, where he schmoozed with his former colleagues and sought support for his (likely) congressional comeback. The former New York lawmaker had a brief meeting with Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and spoke to other members on the House floor, reports Laura Barrón-López.

But Grimm may face a tough time convincing D.C. Republicans he is the right candidate for the job. Grimm, who once threatened to throw a reporter off a balcony, resigned from Congress in 2015 before serving time in prison for tax evasion. And he was trounced in last year’s primary race when he tried to run. Many in the GOP would prefer to support Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, who they think has a better shot at defeating Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.) in the general election (though the local GOP disagrees.) Much more: https://politi.co/2UMKSKR .

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS -- Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) made her debut on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” last night, where she was pressed on her controversial comments about Israel and defended herself against her critics, according to the Washington Post. A tidbit from Laura: Omar’s staff was eager to get her on the show and started asking other offices for a Colbert contact — one day after AOC appeared on the program.

TREATS FROM THE DEM RETREAT: “Chrissy Teigen’s message to Dem women: Say ‘f–- you’ more,” via Sarah and Heather: https://politi.co/2Kuy1sI; and “House Dems use retreat to reset after first 100 days,” from Heather and Sarah: https://politi.co/2UslbzT.

MEET THE FRESHMEN -- POLITICO’s new video series “Red, Fresh & Blue” introduces you to six members of the most diverse freshman class in Congressional history during their first 100 days. In today’s profile , host Eugene Daniels interviews Rep. Chip Roy on his comfortability with bucking his party and how he feels about being called “The Next Ted Cruz.”

TRANSITIONS

Daniel Weiss, former chief of staff to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), has been appointed as senior fellow at The Century Foundation.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House is OUT until the week of April 29. The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of the nomination of David Bernhardt to be Interior secretary.

AROUND THE HILL

Not much.

TRIVIA

WEDNESDAY’S WINNER -- Stephan Kline was the first to correctly guess that former Vice President Dan Quayle was asked by Congressman Leo Ryan to come visit the Jonestown settlement but had to sit out the trip, which turned out to be deadly.

TODAY’S QUESTION -- From Stephan: Six current members of Congress are in the top 50 longest length of service list, four senators and 2 representatives. Who are they? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: [email protected] .

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning.



Follow us on Twitter Melanie Zanona @MZanona