State Senate Candidate Accuses Opponent Of Slander

A Republican candidate for Oklahoma state Senate District 41 accuses his opponent and his opponent’s supporters of slander. 

Paul Blair squares off against Adam Pugh in the Republican primary run-off on August 23. 

Blair — who’s a long-time Edmond Baptist Church pastor — said Pugh and his supporters have been circulating a photoshopped image of Blair in a Klu Klux Klan robe. 

Blair said Pugh’s supporters have also posted on social media that he has ties to Kansas’ Westboro Baptist Church.

“These kind of baseless vile accusations can destroy a man’s reputation forever. And can destroy the reputation of a church forever,” Blair said Monday afternoon from the fourth floor press room inside the Oklahoma state Capitol. 

News 9 went to Adam Pugh’s home in Edmond about 4:30 p.m. Monday. 

His wife answered, and said her husband was at work. 

Pugh called about 9 p.m. and said any linking of  Paul Blair to the KKK are "disgusting," and he didn't do it.