U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a federal investigation into the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) and its proposed 402-acre Muslim development, EPIC City, near Josephine, Texas.
The move comes after Cornyn sent a letter last month to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, urging federal authorities to review the project amid concerns about religious discrimination, the potential application of sharia law, and possible violations of federal law.
“I am grateful to Attorney General Bondi and the Department of Justice for hearing my concerns and opening an investigation into the proposed EPIC City development in North Texas,” said Cornyn. “Religious discrimination and Sharia Law have no place in the Lone Star State. Any violations of federal law must be swiftly prosecuted, and I know under the Trump administration, they will be.”
The federal investigation comes as the state of Texas, under Gov. Greg Abbott, is already conducting a sweeping multi-agency probe into EPIC’s operations. The project, centered around a mosque, Islamic school, and residential community, has been the subject of investigations related to unlicensed construction and funeral services, housing discrimination, and financial compliance.
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.
