DALLAS – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate a proposed development near Josephine, Texas, raising concerns that it may discriminate against non-Muslim religious groups.
Cornyn’s letter to Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon comes on the same day that his political opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, announced an expanded investigation into the project, known as EPIC City.
Cornyn Raises Constitutional Concerns
In his letter, Cornyn urged the DOJ to assess whether the development could violate the rights of religious minorities.
“A master-planned ‘community of thousands of Muslims’ could violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Texans by potentially excluding them or discriminating against them within the community,” Cornyn wrote. “I encourage the Department to examine whether non-Muslim minorities would be afforded equal protection under the law in this new development.”
Cornyn also referenced potential violations of the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, or national origin in housing sales, rentals, and financing.
CAIR Pushes Back, Calls for Federal Oversight of Texas Officials
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) responded swiftly, sending its own letter to the DOJ requesting a civil rights investigation—not into EPIC City, but into Texas state officials.
“Senator Cornyn’s request is factually unfounded and relies on harmful, Islamophobic tropes,” said Robert S. McCaw, Director of Government Affairs at CAIR. “Rather than investigating Muslim-led development projects, the DOJ should examine Texas officials who are using their positions to politically target Muslim communities.”
CAIR argued that Cornyn and Paxton’s actions could infringe on the First Amendment’s free exercise of religion and the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.
“There’s no evidence EPIC has violated any laws,” CAIR wrote. “These politically driven investigations appear designed to intimidate Muslim civic efforts and chill religious expression—precisely the kind of behavior our Constitution is meant to guard against.”
Paxton Expands State-Level Probe
Attorney General Paxton, who is currently challenging Cornyn in the 2026 U.S. Senate race, escalated his inquiry by seeking communications between the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) and city officials in Plano, Richardson, and Wylie.
“If any local officials are coordinating with a real estate development under investigation for possible legal violations, we need full transparency,” Paxton said.
Paxton’s office had previously launched an investigation into Community Capital Partners (CCP), a private development company led by former EPIC leadership and the main entity behind EPIC City and EPIC City Ranches.
Political Rivalry Heating Up Ahead of 2026 Senate Race
Paxton’s heightened scrutiny of EPIC City comes amid a contentious Republican primary battle between him and Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth term in the U.S. Senate.
After months of speculation, Paxton recently confirmed his Senate run, positioning himself as a staunch defender of conservative values.
“It’s time we had a senator who will stand up and fight for real Republican values,” he said.
The Cornyn campaign responded with a sharp critique of Paxton’s credibility, referencing his legal controversies and ethics.
“Ken Paxton is a fraud,” a Cornyn campaign spokesperson said. “Texans deserve a real choice—someone who upholds the law, not someone under investigation for abusing it.”
Paxton has also begun airing attack ads targeting Cornyn’s past disagreements with former President Donald Trump. Cornyn, who previously diverged from Trump on some issues, responded during a recent interview: “President Trump was right, and I was wrong.”
What Is EPIC City?
EPIC City is a proposed master-planned community located about 40 miles northeast of Dallas in Collin and Hunt counties. The project, led by CCP and affiliated with the East Plano Islamic Center, is intended to include:
- Single- and multi-family housing
- A mosque
- A community college
- Schools
- Parks and commercial spaces
The first phase of development, roughly 500 lots, sold out within six months. A second phase is currently open to investors.
“The vision for EPIC City is simple,” said CCP President Imran Chaudhary. “We want to build an inclusive community where people of all backgrounds, cultures, and faiths can live together in harmony.”
Nearby, EPIC Ranches offers larger residential plots and townhomes within walking distance of EPIC City.
Growing State Scrutiny
The project has drawn attention from Governor Greg Abbott and other top state officials. Abbott has directed the Texas Rangers to investigate the mosque and its affiliated businesses. Additional inquiries have come from:
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (regarding utility permits)
- Texas Funeral Service Commission
- Texas Workforce Commission
Last month, Abbott posted on social media, “Sharia law is not allowed in Texas,” a statement CAIR and others say feeds harmful misconceptions.
In response to the growing scrutiny, EPIC City and the mosque have retained prominent defense attorney Dan Cogdell.
“What’s happening is racial profiling, plain and simple,” Cogdell said. “Abbott’s comments are hate speech. Sharia law is not being implemented—it’s a complete fabrication.”
CAIR denounced the investigations as politically motivated and legally unfounded.
“It is shameful that Senator Cornyn would lend credibility to Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton’s baseless investigations,” CAIR said. “This appears to be an orchestrated campaign to stigmatize a Muslim-led development through regulatory harassment and public suspicion.”
