The United States Department of Justice has dropped its civil rights investigation into a master-planned Muslim community in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.
In a June 13 letter obtained by The Dallas Morning News, EPIC City developer Community Capital Partners was informed that the investigation was ending without any lawsuits or charges brought forward.
Community Capital Partners was created by the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) to oversee construction of the planned 402-acre development EPIC City, located approximately 40 minutes outside Dallas.
“CCP has affirmed that all will be welcome in any future development, and that you plan to revise and develop marketing materials to reinforce that message consistent with your obligations under the Fair Housing Act,” wrote Harmeet K. Dhillon, U.S. assistant attorney general for the civil rights division.
“Based on this information, the Department is closing its investigation at this time,” she added.
Federal law enforcement officials initiated their investigation earlier this year at the behest of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R–Texas), who suggested that CCP could be violating the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
Fair housing provisions in Titles VIII and IX of the CRA prohibit discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of houses based on race, religion, national origin, and sex. However, there do exist limited exemptions for religious organizations.
Cornyn pointed to language on EPIC City’s website, which ensured the project would “limit sales to only persons we believe will contribute to the overall makeup of our community and are legally eligible to invest and buy property in the United States.”
The language on the website has since been removed.
Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, stated in a press release following the news that he hopes Gov. Greg Abbott will follow suit and drop his own investigations into EPIC City.
Abbott has ordered four state agencies to probe CCP and the East Plano Islamic Center’s project, specifically the Texas Rangers, Workforce Commission, State Securities Board, and Funeral Service Commission.
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office is also investigating EPIC City regarding potential violations of Texas consumer protection laws.
A source within Paxton’s office told Texas Scorecard that the attorney general is continuing its investigation into EPIC and the related entities. Additionally, the source stated that the office was not involved in the Justice Department’s decision to launch or later drop the investigation.
Despite Abbott’s claims that he has halted construction on EPIC City, the project has not yet begun development. Thus far, a traffic impact analysis, flood study, and environmental study of the site have been completed.
According to The Dallas Morning News, CCP told the DOJ that it could start seeking residential development permits in July or August.
