DOJ to investigate Muslim-led development targeted by Texas GOP, senator says

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

May 10, 2025 at 6:07 p.m. EDT


The Justice Department will investigate whether a planned real estate development around one of North Texas’s largest mosques violates federal law, Sen. John Cornyn (R) said Friday after weeks of calling the project antisemitic and anti-Christian. Attacks over the development outside Dallas have been amplified by Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), Gov. Greg Abbott and right-wing bloggers who baselessly claim it would create a Muslim-only community and impose Islamic law on residents.

Leaders for the East Plano Islamic Center, the mosque that is backing the project dubbed EPIC City, have repeatedly denied the accusations and called the attacks on their planned development Islamophobic. If built, EPIC City would span about 400 acres and create housing, day-care facilities, medical clinics and schools, according to marketing material.

“I am grateful to Attorney General Bondi and the Department of Justice for hearing my concerns and opening an investigation,” Cornyn said in a statement. “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.”

Dan Cogdell, an attorney for EPIC City, said the development would cooperate with the federal investigation, noting that the Muslim community behind the project had nothing to hide. “From day one, their intention was to comply completely and wholeheartedly with the law,” said Cogdell, who defended Paxton during the Republican firebrand’s 2023 impeachment trial. “And they’ve just been vilified, assailed and attacked.” Cogdell added, “What is crazy to me is how far we haven’t come since 9/11. The words ‘mosque,’ ‘Islam,’ ‘Muslim’ in the year of our Lord 2025 are still such a triggering event.” The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/05/10/texas-mosque-housing-development-investigation/

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[OldBaldy1701E]

1. When christians build massive complexes for themselves, it is 'religious freedom' and 'religious expression'.

When another religion does it, it is an 'attack on christianity'.

These people need to be sent to another planet so that they can create their 'utopia' that they think will happen once they remove anyone not as white and rich as they are.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Ethnic neighborhoods are as American as apple pie

These Texas GQP clowns should look in the histories of NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia ... and just about every other American city of any size.

[Bettie]

3. So, to recap

any religion that isn't right wing "Christianity" is an attack on right wing Christianity.

And people wonder why decent people don't want to interact with magats.

[DBoon]

4. and Ave Maria, Florida is OK?

Ave Maria was founded in 2005 by Ave Maria Development, a partnership consisting of Barron Collier Companies and the Ave Maria Foundation led by Catholic entrepreneur Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza and Ave Maria University. The development of the town was made possible when the Florida legislature created the Ave Maria Stewardship Community District, a limited local government whose purpose is to provide community infrastructure.[8] The town was the first to develop under the Rural Lands Stewardship Area (RLSA) program.[9] Since its establishment in 2005, the community of Ave Maria has sold over 5,000 homes, resulting in the emergence of new businesses, including the Midtown Plaza, which will house various retail establishments to support local economic growth.[10]

Monaghan's goal was for the town to be especially attractive for Catholics to move to. Many of the street names are Catholic in nature, and the center of town is anchored by a large Catholic church. During a 2007 interview,[11] Monaghan insisted "[Ave Maria town] is open to everyone, not just Catholics". Fellowship Church is a Baptist church in Ave Maria that was founded in 2017.[12]

In a 2007 interview with CNN, Monaghan stated that his 10-year plan was for Ave Maria to have 11,000 homes, 25,000 residents and 5,000 students at Ave Maria University. He wanted to build a community where "a particular number of Catholics, particularly serious Catholics, would want to live around a really high-quality Catholic university."[13]

- wikipedia