Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday appointed Fort Worth attorney John Scott as Interim Attorney General to fill the vacancy left by Attorney General Ken Paxton during his impeachment trial in the Texas Senate.
Paxton was recently impeached by the Texas House of Representatives after an investigation into an alleged bribery and abuse of power scheme with Austin-area real estate developer Nate Paul, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Scott previously served as Texas Secretary of State under Abbott from October 2021 to December 2022 and as Deputy Texas Attorney General for Civil Litigation.
In a press release issued by Abbott on Wednesday afternoon, Abbott praised Scott’s record as an attorney and public servant.
“John Scott has the background and experience needed to step in as a short-term interim Attorney General during the time the Attorney General has been suspended from duty. He served under me in the Texas Attorney General’s Office and knows how the Office of the Attorney General operates,” the statement said.
“Scott was the Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation and has handled cases at all levels of the justice system. His decades of experience and expertise in litigation will help guide him while serving as the state’s top law enforcement officer,” Abbott continued.
“I appoint John Scott for this role based on the Texas Constitution to serve for a temporary period during the Texas Senate’s resolution of the impeachment proceedings.”
Scott will serve for the duration of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial, which is expected to start before Aug. 28.
