Star Wars actor Mark Hamill had the perfect response to the news House Speaker Mike Johnson appointed far-right Trump supporting Representatives Scott Perry (Pennsylvania) and Ronny Jackson (Texas) to the House Intelligence Committee.
Perry and Johnson played major roles in former President Donald Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election results and are now, despite the controversy surrounding them both, will serve on a committee that receives classified briefings and oversees American spy agencies during a pivotal election year.
Shortly after the news broke, Hamill responded:
"I'm thinking Twitter now needs a "despise" button."
You can see his post below.
Many concurred—and were similarly frustrated by the news.
Despite the significance of these appointments, Johnson did not release a statement regarding his choices for the committee, nor did he inform the chair of the committee.
Perry, a former chair of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, was ordered by a federal judge last year to turn over more than 1,600 texts and emails to FBI agents investigating efforts to keep Trump in office after his 2020 election defeat.
The politician's personal cellphone was also seized by federal authorities who were looking into his involvement in attempts to install an acting attorney general who would support Trump's unfounded claims of election fraud.
Perry, along with other conservative lawmakers, has also advocated for restricting a key U.S. government surveillance tool, aiming to limit the FBI's ability to search Americans' data using the program.
Jackson has been a largely controversial figure since his days as the White House doctor. During a January 2018 press briefing, Jackson vouched for Trump's health, saying his neurological functions are excellent and assuring the press corps that he would be able to serve his entire term.
He was widely mocked after adding that Trump likely had "incredible genes" that allowed him to remain healthy despite a lack of exercise and a fast food habit.
In March, Jackson was harshly criticized after news reports revealed he was discreetly demoted by the U.S. Navy following a report by the Defense Department inspector general that revealed that he engaged in "inappropriate conduct" during his tenure as the top White House physician for Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
@thekalenallen/Threads
U.S. Mint
