James Priest

Biographical Sketch

James Priest serves as Counsel to United States Senator Mike Lee (UT) in his capacity as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources. In this capacity, he advises on issues pertaining to water, United States territories, Alaska, and nominations.

Previously, Professor Priest served as Assistant Counsel to Senator Rand Paul (KY) in his capacity as Ranking Member, and later, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. In that capacity, he worked on the COVID-19 origins investigation, the Trump assassination attempt investigation, and advised on federal regulatory issues and nominations.

Originally from Bakersfield, California, Professor Priest has known he wanted to work in the government since a UCLA undergraduate. In 2017, he interned for then-House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and discovered a passion for policy.

After graduating from UCLA in 2019, Professor Priest took a gap year and worked as a field representative for California State Senator Shannon Grove. He later clerked for Senator Marsha Blackburn on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Special Counsel Henry Kerner in the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, the Solicitor General of Tennessee, the Property and Environment Research Center, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and for Senator Bill Hagerty (TN). He is a first-generation lawyer.