Republican accused of being 'central' to Jan. 6 appointed to House Intelligence Committee

Republican Rep. Scott Perry (PA) was "central to the plan of Jan. 6," testified former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson in front of Congress.

Now, however, he's being put on the House Intelligence Committee, Politico congressional reporter Jordain Carney posted on X.

"Announced on the floor: Jackson and Perry got seats on Intel. Ben Cline got a seat on China select [committee]," she posted. The Jackson to whom she is referring is Rep. Ronnie Jackson (R-TX).

"Two Steering committee members told me that they gave [Rep. Clay] Higgins (R-LA) the HASC seat left vacant by former [Rep. Mike] Gallagher," Jordain also said. Gallagher resigned from office early, leaving the body in April.

Read Also: Congresswoman explains why Rep. Scott Perry is 'mighty afraid' of Jan. 6 committee

Hutchinson testified to the House Select Committee that Perry was one of the lawmakers who begged the president to give him a pardon for anything involving the Jan. 6 attacks.

She later told "The Spark" on WITF-FM radio he was, “Central to the planning of operating the Justice Department officials to execute a plan that Donald Trump wanted. And what Donald Trump wanted was to essentially shred the Constitution in any way that he could to stay in power.

"And Scott Perry has a lot of information about that. And I think that Scott Perry owes it not only to Central Pennsylvania, but to Americans to share what he knows.”

Hutchinson later testified about her boss, chief of staff Mark Meadows, burning papers following a meeting with Perry.

Perry and other lawmakers who were accused of being involved in Jan. 6 have never been prosecuted. Perry had his phone seized by the FBI as part of the 2020 probe and his text messages suggested his involvement to overthrow the election on behalf of Trump.

Intelligence Committee members are not included in the so-called "Gang of Eight," which is made up of the top leaders of the House and Senate and the chair and ranking member of the Intelligence Committee.

The National Security Act of 1947, which restructured the military and intelligence agencies after World War II, gives the White House the power to regulate classified information and who can access it, including members of Congress. Many members of the top committee have the necessary clearance, but it's unclear whether Perry will.