Johnson Names Trump Allies to Intelligence Panel, Prompting Concerns

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 installed Representatives Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, the 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 major role in Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and has faced legal issues over his actions. Mr. Jackson was demoted by the Pentagon amid allegations that he mistreated subordinates, sexually harassed a woman and drank and took sleeping pills while serving as the White House physician.

The decision came as a surprise to Representative Michael R. Turner, Republican of Ohio and the committee’s chairman, and Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the panel, who found out about it from news reports, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke without authorization to comment publicly.

The panel has historically operated in a bipartisan manner, and is largely composed of serious-minded lawmakers rather than strident partisans. The break with tradition prompted fears that the intelligence community might pull back on the sensitive national security information it shares with Congress.

The appointments also sparked outrage from Democrats and mainstream Republicans, given the ethical and legal issues in which both men have been embroiled. Punchbowl News reported on Thursday that Mr. Johnson had made the appointments at the behest of Mr. Trump.

A spokesman for Mr. Johnson said the speaker had the “utmost confidence in Congressmen Perry and Jackson to capably serve the American people on the Intelligence Committee.”