Spicer Leaves • Sessions' Russia Problems • Sen. McCain Cancer Diagnosis [Political Stories Of The Week]

WASHINGTON, DC — As we wind down another eventful week in Washington, here's a look at some of the biggest political stories of the past seven days.

Democrats Herald Agreement On Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill

Congressional Democrats announced Saturday that a bipartisan group of House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement on a sweeping Russia sanctions package to punish Moscow for meddling in the presidential election and its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria. (Patch/AP)

Attorney General Jeff Sessions Plans To Stay On...

"Jeff Sessions is staying on as attorney general, saying he will remain in office 'as long as that is appropriate.' The comments came after President Donald Trump a day earlier criticized Sessions for recusing himself from an investigation into Russian influence in last year's election." (Patch)

...But Faces More Russia Accusations

Sergey Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the U.S., "told his superiors in Moscow that he discussed campaign-related matters, including policy issues important to Moscow, with Jeff Sessions during the 2016 presidential race, contrary to public assertions by the embattled attorney general, according to current and former U.S. officials." (The Washington Post)

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Sean Spicer Resigns As White House Press Secretary

Sean Spicer resigned from his position Friday as White House press secretary. It was announced that Sarah Huckabee Sanders will take over as press secretary. According to New York Times reporter Glenn Thrush, Spicer left over the hiring of Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director. (Patch)

North Korea Travel Banned Due To Fears Of Arrests, Long-term Detentions

U.S. officials said the Trump administration will ban travel to North Korea after university student Otto Warmbier fell into a coma in a North Korean prison and later died. (Patch/AP)

Sen. John McCain Diagnosed With Brain Cancer

"Sen. John McCain's office announced Wednesday night that the Arizona Republican, 80, has brain cancer. A tumor was discovered and removed when doctors operated on a blood clot in his eye last Friday." (Patch)

5 Surprising Moments In President Trump's New York Times Interview

During what the White House billed as "Made In America Week," President Trump went way off message in a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times. (Patch)

Can The President Pardon Himself? Trump's Team Wants To Know: Report

President Trump's legal team is preparing a full-throated defense of the White House in response to the Russia investigation, and lawyers are examining the full extent of the commander in chief's pardon powers, according to the Washington Post. Citing advisers to the president, the report found that the Trump team is considering the possibility that he could pardon members of his family or even himself, if criminal charges arise. (Patch)

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