On Capitol Hill, a Fittingly Chaotic End to a Tumultuous Year – The New York Times

‘It’s wild, isn’t it?’

From Hawaii and Texas, senators and House members rushed to return on Friday for a meeting at the White House and possible votes later that day. Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, caught an early morning flight, while Senator Brian Schatz, Democrat of Hawaii, spent about 20 minutes with his family before an 11-hour flight back to Washington.

“It’s wild, isn’t it?” Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the Republican whip, said to reporters. “A lot going on.”

Mr. Corker, who had been visibly emotional over talks of his final vote Wednesday, hadn’t left.

On Friday, he huddled with colleagues on the Senate floor and delayed a vote on a House-passed spending measure for more than five hours for negotiations to continue and colleagues to arrive from the airport.

In stark contrast, Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, bolted from a White House ceremony for the signing of the bipartisan criminal justice bill to ensure his voting record remained intact. (“Get out of here, Chuck, go, go,” Mr. Trump said, before giving him a pen.)