Texas Tribune: “Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday appointed John Scott – a Fort Worth attorney who briefly represented former President Donald Trump in a lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania – as Texas’ new secretary of state. As secretary of state, Scott would oversee election administration in Texas – a task complicated in recent years by baseless claims of election fraud from Republicans in the highest levels of government, fueled by Trump. The former president has filed a flurry of lawsuits nationwide and called for audits in Texas and elsewhere to review the results of the 2020 presidential elections. Trump’s own attorney general, Bill Barr, said there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud nationwide, and in Texas, an official with the secretary of state’s office said the 2020 election was ‘smooth and secure.'”

“On Nov. 13, Scott signed on as counsel to a lawsuit filed by Trump attempting to block the certification of Pennsylvania’s election. A few days later, Scott filed a motion to withdraw as an attorney for the plaintiffs. Scott’s motion also asked to withdraw Bryan Hughes, a Texas state senator from Mineola who works for Scott’s law firm, as an attorney for the case. Scott will eventually have to be confirmed by the Legislature, which is not scheduled to meet again until 2023. Until then, he’ll serve as interim secretary of state. Abbott’s announcement of Scott’s appointment did not mention Scott’s work for Trump – even as Abbott has endured mounting pressure from Trump supporters to call for audit elections.”