Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) said the Justice Department is opening an investigation into the proposed East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) City development in Texas.
“@AGPamBondi notified me that @TheJusticeDept is opening an investigation in response to my request into the proposed EPIC City development in North TX. Religious discrimination and Sharia Law have no home in Texas,” Cornyn said.
“Any violations of federal law must be swiftly prosecuted, and I know under @POTUS’ administration, they will be,” he added.
“There is NO place for Sharia law in America. Thank you @AGPamBondi and @TheJusticeDept for your commitment to the Constitution and ensuring North Texans are protected from religious discrimination,” Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) commented.
Per Texas Scorecard:
Separately, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has also been investigating EPIC for potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and has issued civil investigative demands to EPIC’s development arm, Community Capital Partners, as well as documents requests to local cities and school districts.
Abbott, meanwhile, has maintained that sharia law is not recognized in Texas and that any development operating outside of Texas and U.S. law will be held accountable.
The proposed 402-acre Islamic development faces accusations that it would be governed by sharia law.
“EPIC recently bought just over 400 acres of property north of Josephine near the intersections of County Roads 850 and 695 for the proposed development that includes more than 1,000 homes, a school, retail areas, parks and more centered around a mosque,” KHOU 11 noted.
WATCH:
KHOU 11 reports:
https://100percentfedup.com/justice-department-launches-probe-islamic-development-gop-led/Following Cornyn’s April request for a DOJ investigation into EPIC City, the Council on American-Islamic Relations sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, calling on the DOJ to reject Cornyn’s request.
“Senator Cornyn’s request is not only factually baseless. It weaponizes tired Islamophobic tropes to portray a peaceful, inclusive development project as suspicious simply because it is Muslim-led,” CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw said in a statement. “Rather than targeting Muslim charities working to build family-centered communities, the Department of Justice should investigate Texas officials who appear to be violating the Constitution by singling out Muslims for political gain.”
Community Capital Partners, which has been in communication with local and regional community leaders to discuss plans and take input on the EPIC City development, previously said it’s “disheartened that our project has become fodder for pandering and political theater.”
“The consistent attacks and unwarranted investigations speak volumes about the state of politics and have little to do with our project, or our vision,” Community Capital Partners said in a statement. “We look forward to correcting the misinformation about EPIC City, and we will continue to work to create a diverse, safe and inclusive community — one in which everyone is welcome and people of every background, faith, and culture can live together in harmony.”
