Within hours of Ken Paxton's victory in Texas's Republican Senate primary runoff on Tuesday night, Republican operatives across the country deleted months of criticism from their websites and social media accounts.
According to Rolling Stone, the National Republican Senate Committee and other GOP groups removed scathing press releases and posts attacking the scandal-plagued nominee. The deleted headlines included "Ken Paxton's Lies and Incompetence Keep Piling Up" and "VIDEO: Ken Paxton is Standing in Conservatives' Way."
The NRSC also removed a statement defending Paxton's ex-wife Angela Paxton after she announced her divorce on "biblical grounds" following his infidelity. The original post read: "What Ken Paxton has put his family through is truly repulsive and disgusting."
The deletions came after Trump endorsed Paxton, who defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the runoff. Weeks earlier, the GOP establishment had backed Cornyn. Now, with the seat competitive, the party shifted from opposing Paxton to supporting him.
Over two decades in Texas politics, Paxton has faced accusations ranging from profiting off his office to more serious allegations.
Republicans spent months warning voters that Paxton was damaged goods. Once Trump endorsed him, they removed their own warnings from the internet.
