Speaker of the Chamber Mike Johnson announced two fresh members of the prestigious House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.
Rep. Scott Perry (R-10) was elected with Representative Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) to a panel that oversees the intelligence community and access to highly sensitive information.
The House Freedom Caucus pressed Johnson to select Perry, its former leader, to the committee. As a select committee, Johnson has the ability to make his own selection, but given his precarious grip on the majority, some may see the move as a nod to the right flank of the Republican Party.
“I offer my enormous thanks to Speaker Johnson for selecting me to serve on the House Intelligence Committee,” Perry said. “I am honored by his confidence in me, my service to our nation and my experience in this arena. I look forward to providing not only a fresh perspective, but also providing real oversight rather than blind obedience to aspects of our Intel community that too often abuse their powers, resources and power to spy on the American people.”
Perry is still involved in federal investigation in efforts to thwart the 2020 election led by Trump and his allies. The panel has oversight powers over the FBI, which seized Perry’s cellphone in August 2022. Perry tried to bring a lawsuit over what federal investigators could access on his phone, prompting some Republicans to say it would be a shame to elect him working for Intel was inappropriate. equation.
The nominations were announced in the House of Representatives with little fanfare and no announcements from the Speaker’s office.
Two vacancies on the panel resulted from a mid-term departure Representatives Chris Stewart (R-Utah) i Mike Gallagher (R-Wise.).
Perry currently serves on three committees: Transportation and Infrastructure, where he is chairman of the Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee and a member of the Aviation Subcommittee; Supervision and responsibility; and Foreign Affairs, where he serves on the Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee.
“When even Rep. Scott Perry’s Republican colleagues admit he is unfit for office, you know there is a problem,” the Democrat said Janelle Stelson, his opponent in November’s general election. “The politician whose phone was confiscated by the FBI now oversees the FBI. We cannot trifle with our country’s most important secrets, and the people of Central Pennsylvania should be extremely concerned that Scott Perry finds himself in this position.”
