Sunday shows - Administration officials grilled on Trump's Iran claims

Top administration officials were questioned on Sunday about President TrumpDonald TrumpHouse votes to condemn Chinese government over Hong Kong Former Vice President Walter Mondale dies at age 93 White House readies for Chauvin verdict MORE's comments that the U.S. killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani to avert an imminent attack on four U.S. embassies, a claim lawmakers say was never mentioned in a briefing.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiWhite House readies for Chauvin verdict House GOP's McClain responds to Pelosi calling her 'that woman' GOP struggles to rein in nativism MORE also discussed the latest on the Democrats' impeachment effort against President Trump. She said late last week that she would transfer the House-passed articles impeachment to the Senate this week ahead of a trial.

Read The Hill's complete coverage below.

Pentagon chief says he 'didn't see' intelligence suggesting Iran planned to attack four US embassies By REBECCA KLAR   Secretary of Defense Mark EsperMark EsperThe paradox of US-India relations Overnight Defense: Trump-era land mine policy unchanged amid review | Biden spending outline coming Friday | First lady sets priorities for relaunched military families initiative Biden to keep Trump-era land mine policy in place during review MORE said on Sunday that he did not see intelligence that supported President Trump’s comments that the Iranian commander killed in a U.S. drone strike was plotting attacks against four U.S. embassies. Read the full story here

Esper: Gang of 8 'did not think' further intelligence on Iranian threat should be shared with Congress By REBECCA KLAR   Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that the top congressional intelligence committee members did not think that information shared with them about a potential Iranian plot to attack the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad should be shared with other members of Congress.  Read the full story here

Fox's Wallace presses O'Brien on contradiction between Trump embassy threat claims and administration briefing By ZACK BUDRYK   Fox News’s Chris WallaceChristopher (Chris) WallaceCornyn defends controversial tweet as not about Biden's competency Sullivan: White House 'absolutely committed' to raising refugee cap McConnell seeks to end feud with Trump MORE on Sunday grilled White House national security adviser  Robert O’Brien on President Trump’s claims that the U.S. killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani to avert an imminent attack on four U.S. embassies, which lawmakers say was never mentioned in a briefing by representatives of the Trump administration. Read the full story here

O'Brien defends 'exquisite' intelligence justifying Soleimani killing By ZACK BUDRYK   “We had exquisite intelligence and the intelligence showed that they were looking at U.S. facilities throughout the region and that they wanted to inflict casualties on American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, as well as diplomats,” White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien told NBC’s Chuck ToddCharles (Chuck) David ToddBoehner to NBC's Chuck Todd: 'You're a s---' for question about seeking office again Whitmer: State won't close down again following GOP lawsuits Boehner: 'America First Caucus is one of the nuttiest things I've ever seen' MORE on "Meet the Press." Read the full story here

National security adviser: US embassies not evacuated because 'we're not going to cut and run every time somebody threatens us' By JUSTINE COLEMAN   National security adviser Robert O’Brien said Sunday that U.S. embassies were not alerted or evacuated due to the “imminent threat” of an attack because “we’re not going to cut and run every time somebody threatens us.” Read the full story here

Democratic senator: Trump told Laura Ingraham more about Soleimani killing than we heard in briefing By ZACK BUDRYK   Sen. Chris CoonsChris Andrew CoonsAdvocacy groups pushing Biden to cancel student debt for disabled Senators in the dark on parliamentarian's decision Sunday shows preview: Russia, US exchange sanctions; tensions over policing rise; vaccination campaign continues MORE (D-Del.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, on Sunday decried what he called a lack of meaningful information presented to members of Congress about the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, saying President Trump provided more detail in an interview with Fox’s Laura IngrahamLaura Anne IngrahamTucker Carlson debuts his first major streaming show on Fox Nation Trump says Capitol rioters posed 'zero threat' Trump says press asked Biden 'softball' questions MORE. Read the full story here

Paul: US 'drifting away from' founders' desire that it be 'difficult to go to war' By ZACK BUDRYK    Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard Paul15 Senate Republicans pledge to oppose lifting earmark ban The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Tax March - CDC in limbo on J&J vax verdict; Rep. Brady retiring Anti-Asian hate crimes bill overcomes first Senate hurdle MORE (R-Ky.) said Sunday that Congress must re-assert its authority over whether or not the U.S. engages in acts of war in the wake of the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, saying the authority had slowly been usurped over several decades dating back to the Korean War. Read the full story here

Pelosi: No 'second thoughts' on delaying transmission of articles of impeachment to Senate By JUSTINE COLEMAN   Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she did not regret her decision to delay sending the articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate. Read the full story here

Dismissing impeachment case would be a 'cover up,' Pelosi says By JUSTINE COLEMAN   Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the Senate dismissing the impeachment case against President Trump would amount to "a cover up." Read the full story here

Pelosi: Every 'knock' from Trump is a 'boost' By JUSTINE COLEMAN   Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday responded to President Trump’s recent attacks on her by saying “every knock from him is a boost.” Read the full story here

Bennet: 'Many people would say' Iraq War support was not Biden's 'finest hour' By ZACK BUDRYK    Sen.  Michael BennetMichael Farrand BennetDemocrats get good news from IRS Senators press for answers in Space Command move decision Biden announces first slate of diverse judicial nominees MORE (D-Colo.) said Sunday that his fellow presidential candidate former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenObama, Clinton reflect on Mondale's legacy Biden, Harris commend Mondale in paving the way for female VP Mondale in last message to staff: 'Joe in the White House certainly helps' MORE’s support for the war in Iraq was “not his finest hour” in the eyes of some voters. Read the full story here

Steyer says 'grassroots organizing' in Nevada, South Carolina got him on debate stage By REBECCA KLAR    Democratic presidential candidate Tom SteyerTom SteyerCalifornia Democrats weigh their recall options Why we should be leery of companies entering political fray Steyer says he has 'no plans' to run for public office again MORE pointed to his grassroots organizing efforts to explain how he made it onto next week’s debate stage amid accusations that the billionaire philanthropist is buying his way into the event.  Read the full story here