Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked the Department of Justice to open an investigation into the East Plano Islamic Center’s plan to open a Muslim-centric city near Josephine, Texas.
Sunday press release Cornyn’s Office announced that he had sent it letter Attorney General Pam Bondi asks the DOJ to investigate Epic’s plans regarding concerns that the community would ban non-Muslim residents.
“Consistent attacks and unfair investigations speak volumes about the state of politics and have little to do with our projects or vision.”
The press release said it is already facing several investigations by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) after being accused of “critical discrimination among Christian, Jewish and other non-Muslim minorities.”
He said, “The master-planned “community” of thousands of Muslims who live in this new community, prevent discrimination against them within the community, and who may violate the constitutional rights of Jews and Christian Texans, further encourage us to investigate whether Christian, Jewish and other non-Muslim minorities are eligible for equal protection under the laws of this new community.”
“Religious discrimination, whether explicit or implicit, is unconstitutional under the 1st and 14th Amendments. Religious freedom is the cornerstone of our country’s values, and I am potentially concerned that this community may undermine this important protection,” continued Cornyny. “Religious discrimination is a constitutional violation and an infringement of the federal government.”
He added that it may be necessary to investigate the epic to enforce the potential Sharia laws that Abbott is already investigating at the state level.
What is the background?
Epic plans to build a 402-acre Muslim-centric community outside about 40 miles of Dallas. The development reportedly features a mosque, a kindergarten to high school faith-based school, an outreach centre, commercial development, sports facilities, and 1,000 homes.
Abbott began to express concern about the proposed development earlier this year, saying “City of Sharia” is “not permitted in Texas.”
In early April, Abbott declared that he “cannot begin construction” on the epic project after failing to obtain the required “permission or permit.”
The Texas Rangers, the Texas Securities Commission, the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Attorney General Kenpaxton have launched an EPIC investigation at Abbott’s request.
Last week, Paxton told the co-founder of Blaze Media Glenbeck He discovers that the lawyer representing the developers of Epic City is Dan Cogdell, the same lawyer who previously defended Paxton from the Merge Each.
Paxton called “a little concern” that he didn’t realize sooner, pointing out that “I’m still represented by him and he’s representing the client we’re investigating,” and called it a “little concern.”
Meanwhile, the city’s developer, Community Capital Partner, has denied that the planned community violates any law or enforces Sharia law.
Cogdell claims that the proposed development has become a “victim of racial profiling.”
“No one is associated with epics. Those associated with that community are not in favor of Sharia laws either to comply with Sharia law,” he previously told KTVT.
He accused Abbott of spreading “lies, false information, nonsense.”
Community Capital Partners said Dallas Morning News“Consistent attacks and unfair investigations speak volumes about the state of politics and have little to do with our projects or our vision.”
“We look forward to correcting misinformation about the epic city and we will continue to create a diverse, safe and inclusive community.
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