Just a few days after his new job, the new Texas Secretary of State, John Scott, wants to get started right away.
AUSTIN, Texas – Just days after his new job, the new Texas Secretary of State plans to get started. And John Scott says that one of his first assignments will be to create a forensic audit department, a new and permanent division within the State Department.
Scott gave Inside Texas Politics his first television interview, saying the split was ultimately the result of laws passed during the Second Special Session (SB 1) that mandated periodic audits.
“We might as well start by organizing the Foreign Minister’s office so that this process can grow. They want it in place by the time SB 1 is passed, ”said Scott.
SB 1 comes into force on December 2nd. Scott says another of his priorities will be to complete the current election exam in four Texas counties: Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Harris.
“We want to complete the forensic exam we have as soon as possible,” said Scott. “And that’s why we’re going to ask the state for more resources to hire more people to make this happen.”
Scott is a Fort Worth attorney who briefly helped former President Donald Trump challenge the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania. Scott told us that he only worked on the effort for a few days.
Scott says Texans can trust him to hold elections fairly in our state because, like any lawyer, he says he makes decisions based on evidence, one of the reasons he canceled the Pennsylvania challenge.
“President Biden is our president and has been elected for a year, I mean, almost a year has passed since the election. So there is no question that Joseph Biden is president and won the election, ”said Scott.
Governor Greg Abbott named the Republican Secretary of State on October 21. He also named Scott’s predecessor Ruth Hughs as well as Hugh’s predecessor David Whitley.
But the appointments require Senate approval to become official. Senators never accepted Hughs’ nomination. And they wouldn’t admit Scotts until the next regular session in 2023.
“I want to be here for the rest of the day. And I’ll take care of tomorrow, tomorrow, ”said Scott. “If you look at the long history of this office, it’s not an office that people are in all of their lives.”
SB 1 (from 2nd special session): Texas Legislature Online – 87 (2) History for SB 1
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