New Texas secretary of state from Fort Worth was Trump lawyer in election challenge

A Fort Worth attorney has been appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott as Texas Secretary of State, filling a months long vacancy after Ruth Hughs resigned in May.

John Scott, an attorney who lives in Fort Worth and has offices in Austin, previously worked as deputy attorney general for civil litigation when Abbott served as Texas attorney general. After that, he served as the first chief operating officer of the Health and Human Services Commission.

Scott represented former President Donald Trump in a legal challenge to the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania, but withdrew from the lawsuit, according to Reuters.

He has also served as chair of the board for the Department of Information Resources after he returned to private practice, according to Abbott’s office.

“John Scott is a proven leader with a passion for public service, and his decades of experience in election law and litigation make him the ideal choice for the Texas Secretary of State,” Abbott said in a statement. “John understands the importance of protecting the integrity of our elections and building the Texas brand on an international stage. I am confident that John’s experience and expertise will enhance his oversight and leadership over the biggest and most thorough election audit in the country. I am proud to appoint John as the Texas Secretary of State and look forward to working alongside him to ensure Texas remains the best state in the nation.”

Scott is a founding partner at Franklin Scott Conway, LLP based in Washington. The firm has attorneys across the country, including in Texas. Sen. Bryan Hughes, who authored an election bill that passed earlier this year, serves as counsel at the firm.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.