WASHINGTON — House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has chosen Rep. Adam Schiff of California as senior Democrat on the House Select Committee on Intelligence.

Pelosi said Schiff has impeccable national security credentials after serving on the House Foreign Affairs panel and two Appropriations subcommittees related to foreign affairs and intelligence. He also serves on a special panel investigating the attacks on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans.

As ranking Democrat on the Intelligence committee, Schiff will be one of eight congressional leaders — four from the House and four from the Senate — who are briefed by the president on top-secret intelligence activities.

Schiff replaces Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland, who served two terms as the Intelligence panel's top Democrat.