Speaker Mike Johnson has appointed two outspoken hard-right allies of former President Donald J. Trump with major ethical and legal issues to the House Intelligence Committee, prompting criticism from members of both parties.
Mr. Johnson on Wednesday put Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, former chairman of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, and Ronny Jackson of Texas, Mr. Trump’s former White House doctor, on the panel. Mr. Perry played a leading role in Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and has faced legal challenges over his actions. Mr. Jackson was demoted by the Pentagon amid allegations that he mistreated subordinates, assaulted women and drank and took sleeping pills while serving as White House physician.
The decision came as a surprise to Representative Michael R. Turner, Republican of Ohio and chairman of the committee, and Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the panel, who found out from the news report, according to people familiar with it. matter that speaks without authority for public comment.
The panel has historically been run in a bipartisan fashion, and is largely composed of serious lawmakers rather than hard-line partisans. The break with tradition has fueled fears that the intelligence community could withdraw sensitive national security information shared with Congress.
The appointment also drew ire from mainstream Democrats and Republicans, given the ethical and legal issues both men face. Punchbowl News reported that Mr. Johnson had been appointed at the behest of Mr. Trump.
A spokesman for Mr. Johnson did not respond to questions about the appointment.
Former Representative Adam Kinzinger, Republican of Illinois and a former Air Force pilot, called the move “insane.”
Representative Mikie Sherrill, Democrat of New Jersey and a former Navy helicopter pilot, wrote on social media that Mr. Johnson was “putting the MAGA agenda before our national security — at the direction of Donald Trump.”
He added: “I have serious concerns about Reps. Perry & Jackson serving on the Intel Committee, considering their efforts to overturn free & fair elections, incite insurrection, and reckless conduct in their jobs. They will use the Intel Committee to support Trump’s agenda.”
Mr. Perry is among those who have led efforts in Congress to overturn the results of the 2020 election on behalf of Mr. Trump. In the weeks following Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory, Mr. Perry was among at least 11 Republican members of Congress who engaged in discussions with Trump administration officials about reversing the results. That includes a plan to force Vice President Mike Pence to throw out electoral votes from states Mr. Biden won.
mr. common with another loyal official, Jeffrey Clark, willing to support Mr. Trump’s bid to remain in power.
The FBI seized Mr. Perry’s personal cell phone in the summer of 2022 and made a forensic copy of its contents, but told Mr. Perry that he was not a target of the investigation, his lawyer said at the time.
In a statement, Mr. Perry thanked Mr. Johnson for choosing people for the panel, and promised to serve as a check on the intelligence community.
“I hope to provide not only a new perspective, but conduct real oversight – not blind obedience to some aspects of our intel community that often abuse the power, resources, and authority to spy on the American people,” Mr. Perry said.
Mr Jackson remained in touch with Mr Trump after serving as White House physician, when he famously praised the president’s “good health” and “amazing genes”. Mr. Trump nominated him in 2018 to be secretary of veterans affairs, but Mr. Jackson was forced to step aside amid allegations of professional misconduct that ultimately led to his demotion.
Mr. Trump then supported Mr. Jackson in his successful run for Congress. A little over a year after he took office, congressional ethics investigators accused Mr. Jackson of improperly using campaign donations to pay for unlimited access for himself and his wife to a private dining club in Amarillo, Texas.
Mr. Jackson has quietly lobbied for a position on the intelligence committee for years. He voted in favor of reauthorizing key provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a stance favored by panel members but fiercely opposed by many on the right, including Mr. Perry.
“Too bad actors around the world want to see America’s national security and status on the world stage destroyed, and it is critical that the intelligence community counters these efforts and keeps our country safe,” Mr. Jackson in a statement. “Working together with Chairman Turner, I am confident that we will be able to restore the full confidence of the American people in our intelligence community.”
Mr. Perry and Mr. Jackson will replace former Representatives Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Chris Stewart of Utah, two mainstream Republican lawmakers who joined the wave of resignations from Congress during a uniquely chaotic and unproductive session.
Mr. Turner and Mr. Himes have worked to bring a bipartisan, serious reputation back to the panel, which Republicans contended had been politicized in the previous year by the pursuit of the first impeachment of Mr. Trump. The two have often made news appearances together.
Because of the new appointment, some on the panel expressed concern privately on Thursday that officials in the intelligence community would limit the scope of sensitive information shared with Congress in the future.