I believe he is the one who gave the order. However, even if it comes out that he did - his worshipers won’t care - they won’t even bat an eye over it and will bow down and kiss his feet anyway.
10) And by unlimited seduction to evil, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing because they did not welcome the truth, but refused to love it.
11) Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false.