Dan Patrick, Texas's antigay, anti-trans lieutenant governor, deleted a tweet that seemed to direct blame at the victims of the mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub, but deleted it after a firestorm erupted.
The tweet, published at 7 a.m. Austin time, read, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." -Galatians 6-7
After Twitter exploded in anger, a spokesman with Patrick's office told The Dallas Morning News the tweet was scheduled before the shooting and "was certainly not done with any foreknowledge of the events of the day."
Another Bible verse was released a half hour later: "The salvation of the righteous comes from the lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble." -Psalm 37:39
The first tweet was deleted, but the second one remains on his feed as of 12:45 p.m. Eastern. Patrick has not tweeted a message about the massacre.
Patrick recently announced he's encouraging Texas public schools to defy guidance from President Obama's administration that trans students be accommodated in facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms. "I will be sending a letter to every superintendent in the state of Texas," he said at the time, "letting them know that they should not move forward on the president's guidelines."