Speaker Mike Johnson Selects Arkansas Rep Rick Crawford to Chair Powerful House Intel Committee
Making the announcement Thursday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson announced Arkansas Republican Representative Rick Crawford would be the new Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI).
As chair of HPSCI the position automatically elevates Rick Crawford onto the Gang of Eight, the legislative group that holds information within the legislative branch at the same level of information as the President. Crawford now joins Mike Johnson, Tom Cotton and John Thune as the four republicans on the intelligence Gang of Eight.
Because of both the power and sensitivity of the HPSCI Chair position, the appointment comes directly from the Speaker of the House with no other member input. Crawford is Johnson’s personal selection.
Additionally, Johnson announced the following members are added to the House intel committee: Ben Cline (Va.), Pat Fallon (Texas), Greg Steube (Fla.), Claudia Tenney (N.Y.) and Ann Wagner (Mo.). Overall, a larger MAGA alignment on this very key intelligence committee.
WASHINGTON DC – […] The sea change on the panel is already triggering intense backlash from some Republicans on the committee and across the conference, who worry it’s a warning sign about the House’s willingness to stay independent of Trump. That’s to say nothing of Democrats, who fear the return of the partisan warfare that wracked the panel during Trump’s first term.
Unlike Turner, who has been an outspoken advocate for Ukraine funding and other muscular national security stances, Crawford is much more America First in his outlook. He opposed aid to Ukraine last year and was the only member of the Arkansas congressional delegation to oppose the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral win in 2021.
Crawford is also seen as a team player for the Trump cause. He gave up his Intelligence seat for a time to Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio), a veteran partisan brawler, in the runup to Trump’s first impeachment in 2019 so Republicans would have more firepower during televised hearings. He said at the time he wanted to “ensure the American people hear the full truth” amid allegations that Trump threatened to hold up military aid to Ukraine in exchange for political dirt on his political opponents. (read more)
We are all going to need to watch closely how the 2025 legislative membership position themselves against the backdrop of the larger Intelligence Community. Crawford is a positive step; however, Crawford necessarily (to survive in the machine) has expressed his belief in the value of the FISA-702 authorities, so stay diligent.
Remember the example just yesterday with Mary McCord appearing before the Senate to undermine Pam Bondi. Not a single Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee called out McCord; not one. The absence of action tells us the Senate Republicans are still very afraid of the Intelligence Community (Six Ways to Sunday Group).
However, as a postscript to provide a cautious sense of optimism, I can confirm the lengthy information CTH provided yesterday about Mary McCord passed through the protective guardians around the president-elect, directly to the principal that matters. That’s another good sign.
Be of good cheer and live your best life,
Wolverines Patrol the Perimeter!
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