Texas Gov Greg Abbott calls for CAIR to be stripped of non-profit status
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called on the state's attorney general to strip the Council on American-Islamic Relations of its non-profit status on Thursday.
Abbott made the request in a letter to Attorney General Ken Paxton that was released by the governor's office. The letter also urges Paxton to prevent CAIR and its affiliates from operating in Texas.
"Under Texas law, the Texas Attorney General is the only elected official charged with regulating nonprofits that may be violating the law," Abbott wrote, calling on Paxton to take action.
Paxton's office says they are already investigating two school districts for ties to the Islamic Games of North America, a group that works regularly with CAIR.
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"The spread of radical Islam in Texas must be stopped, and if school districts are continuing to promote or partner with organizations tied to an FTO, that ends now," said Attorney General Paxton. "I will ensure that taxpayers’ dollars are not materially supporting activities by Islamist terrorists in violation of Texas law."
Abbott has previously called on school districts to sever ties with CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood. He argues the organizations cannot legally operate on public school property, according to Click2Houston.
"Voluminous documents detail the dangers posed to Texans by the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, and their affiliates," Abbott said in a statement. "Regardless of the facade CAIR attempts to portray in press releases, CAIR cannot be allowed to use its ‘nonprofit’ status as a shield for sponsoring terror, advancing radical Islamism in Texas, or fronting for the Muslim Brotherhood."
"The same goes for other entities pretending to engage in charity by day, while sponsoring terror by night," he added.
CAIR has denied accusations from Abbott's office, including that the organization is a front for Hamas. The group called Abbott "desperate" in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"Greg Abbott has spent several years trying and failing to silence Texans who dared to criticize the waste of American taxpayer dollars on the Israeli government's crimes," a CAIR spokesman said.
"While CAIR's legal team deals with Mr. Abbott's antics in a court of law, CAIR-Texas remains squarely focused on protecting free speech, religious freedom, and civil rights for all Texans," he continued.
CAIR says it has sued Abbott "to block his unconstitutional proclamation targeting our Texas chapter."
Abbott's call comes weeks after the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith referred CAIR's California chapter to the IRS for investigation. His referral cited alleged misuse of taxpayer funds, potential violations of federal law and support for unlawful activity.
"Tax-exempt status is a privilege, not a right," Smith, a Republican from Missouri, told Fox News Digital earlier this month. "Organizations that receive special treatment under the tax code must follow the law and operate in the public interest, not bankroll illegal activity, mislead federal agencies, or misuse hard-earned taxpayer dollars."
Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this report.