EXCLUSIVE: Russian ‘Mafia Men’ And Ukrainian Actresses — Paxton’s Blockbuster Campaign Video Used Foreign Talent
'It's truly unbelievable to watch'
Exclusive: Hundreds of conservative Texans rally behind Paxton's effort to primary Cornyn
Over 250 conservative leaders across Texas are backing Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), Blaze News first learned.
Texan leaders, lawmakers, and grassroots activists alike rallied behind Paxton as he prepares to primary Cornyn, who he says is relying too much on the establishment. Cornyn has held the Senate seat since 2002 and will be up for re-election in 2026.
'He has an excellent record fighting for Texans and their rights, which is needed now more than ever.'
"I'm incredibly grateful to have the support of over 250 conservative leaders from across our great state," Paxton told Blaze News. "While John Cornyn is relying on the Washington establishment to save him, I'm proud that my campaign is powered by the grassroots and the people of Texas."
Paxton characterized Cornyn as a career politician who has previously come into conflict with President Donald Trump's priorities.
"Our momentum grows every single day because there are millions of patriots who know what I know: It's time for a change," Paxton told Blaze News. "John Cornyn has been in Washington for over two decades, and in that time all he's done is work with Joe Biden to pass radical gun control, attack President Trump, and call the border wall 'naive.'"
"He's failed our state," Paxton continued, "and I'm running to ensure that Cornyn is replaced by a strong conservative warrior who will always stand with President Trump."
Political allies echoed Paxton, saying he is a necessary change agent for Washington, D.C.
"Paxton is the perfect person to replace the RINO that is John Cornyn," BlazeTV contributor and Paxton endorser Matthew Mardsen told Blaze News. "He has an excellent record fighting for Texans and their rights, which is needed now more than ever. The contrast can't be starker."
"For far too long, John Cornyn has sold Texans out and voted against the will of his constituents," Sara Gonzales, host of BlazeTV's "Sara Gonzales Unfiltered," told Blaze News. "He seems far more interested in funding forever wars than helping his own citizens. Frankly, he is an embarrassment to the state of Texas."
"Attorney General Paxton has a long track record of fighting for Texans, even when the battle is tough, and even when the establishment is after him," Gonzales added. "At times, he’s been the only statewide elected official willing to do what’s right. I look forward to Paxton giving Texans real representation in the United States Senate."
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Planned Muslim city in Texas could discriminate against Christians and Jews, Sen. Cornyn says
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked the Department of Justice to open an investigation into East Plano Islamic Center's plans to open a Muslim-centric city near Josephine, Texas.
A Sunday press release from Cornyn's office announced that he sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting that the DOJ investigate EPIC's plans over concerns that the community would ban non-Muslim residents.
'The consistent attacks and unwarranted investigations speak volumes about the state of politics and have little to do with our project, or our vision.'
The press release noted that EPIC is already facing several investigations by Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) after it was accused of "risking religious discrimination of Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslim minorities."
He stated, "A master-planned 'community of thousands of Muslims' could violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Texans, by preventing them from living in this new community and discriminating against them within the community. I further encourage the Department to investigate whether Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslim minorities would receive equal protection under the law in this new community."
"Religious discrimination, whether explicit or implicit, is unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our nation's values, and I am concerned this community potentially undermines this vital protection," Cornyn continued. "Religious-based discrimination is a constitutional violation as well as a federal rights violation."
He added that EPIC may also need to be investigated for potentially enforcing Sharia law, which Abbott is already probing at the state level.
What's the background?
EPIC is planning to build a 402-acre Muslim-centric community roughly 40 miles outside of Dallas. The development would reportedly feature a mosque, a K-12 faith-based school, an outreach center, commercial developments, sports facilities, and 1,000 homes — including senior living spaces.
Abbott began expressing concern about the proposed development earlier this year, stating that "Sharia cities" are "not allowed in Texas."
In early April, Abbott declared that EPIC "may not begin construction" on its project over a failure to obtain required "authorizations or permits."
The Texas Rangers, the Texas State Securities Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have opened investigations into EPIC at Abbott's request.
Last week, Paxton told Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck that he discovered that the attorney representing EPIC City's developers is Dan Cogdell, the same lawyer who previously defended Paxton against impeachment.
Paxton called it "a little concerning" that he was not made aware sooner, noting that "there definitely could be an argument that there's conflict because I'm still being represented by him and he's representing clients that we are investigating."
Meanwhile, Community Capital Partners, the city's developer, has denied that the planned community would violate any laws or enforce Sharia law.
Cogdell has claimed that the proposed development has become "the victim of racial profiling."
"No one associated with EPIC, no one associated with that community follows Sharia law or is in favor of Sharia law," he previously told KTVT.
He accused Abbott of spreading "lies, false information, and nonsense."
Community Capital Partners told the Dallas Morning News, "The consistent attacks and unwarranted investigations speak volumes about the state of politics and have little to do with our project, or our vision."
"We look forward to correcting the misinformation about EPIC City, and we will continue to work to create a diverse, safe and inclusive community — one in which everyone is welcome and people of every background, faith, and culture can live together in harmony," it added.
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Islamic city planned for Texas hires ex-Paxton attorney to defuse Sharia law concerns
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) in late March directed the Texas Rangers, the Texas State Securities Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission to launch investigations into the East Plano Islamic Center concerning its plans to develop a Muslim-centric city on 402 acres near Josephine, roughly 40 miles outside Dallas.
The development would reportedly feature a mosque, a K-12 faith-based school, an outreach center, commercial developments, sports facilities, and 1,000 homes, townhomes, and apartments.
'There definitely could be an argument that there's conflict because I'm still being represented by him and he's representing clients that we are investigating.'
The proposed city has ignited fears within the surrounding community that it will implement Sharia law and potentially ultimately lead to a "no-go zone."
State investigations
Abbott has repeatedly expressed concerns about the planned community.
In February, Abbott stated in a post on social media, "To be clear, Sharia law is not allowed in Texas. Nor are Sharia cities. Nor are 'no go zones' which this project seems to imply."
"Bottom line. The project as proposed in the video is not allowed in Texas," the governor concluded, referring to EPIC's promotional clip advertising the plans.
The Texas Funeral Service Commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to EPIC in March, demanding that it "immediately stop all illegal funeral service operations."
According to Abbott, EPIC had been operating a funeral home without an established license in violation of state law.
Abbott announced on April 1 that EPIC "may not begin construction" on its community, stating that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality discovered it had failed to obtain required "authorizations or permits."
The governor insisted that EPIC City "has serious legal issues" and announced that a dozen state agencies are looking into the proposed community.
The governor tasked the Texas Rangers with investigating EPIC "for potential criminal activities." The Texas Workforce Commission is probing "potential discrimination in violation of the Texas Fair Housing Act." The Texas State Securities Board is looking into any "potential financial harm to Texans." Additionally, state Attorney General Ken Paxton is examining "potential violations of Texas consumer protection laws."
"Texas vigorously safeguards the freedoms granted to American citizens in the U.S. Constitution, including the freedom of religion," Abbott said. "To that end, the Texas Workforce Commission opened an investigation into the group behind the proposed EPIC compound who are potentially breaking state fair housing laws by refusing to sell or rent housing to certain groups based on religion or other protected traits."
Texans share concerns
The RAIR Foundation USA was among the first to begin sounding the alarm about EPIC and its proposed city.
Amy Mek, the founder and editor in chief of the RAIR Foundation, warned that the project is not just "a housing development."
"It's the expansion of a Sharia-controlled society, starting with the radical school already operating at the EPIC Mosque in Plano, Texas," Mek wrote. "Now, EPIC is scaling up — EPIC City will operate with no city oversight, no state-controlled curriculum, and no accountability to American laws."
'No one associated with EPIC … follows Sharia law or is in favor of Sharia law.'
Many residents in Blue Ridge, a city roughly 20 miles away from Josephine, voiced their concerns about the proposed development during a recent city council meeting.
Douglas Deaton, a former police lieutenant in Plano, stated that a Sharia law enclave existed in Texas long before EPIC proposed its city plans.
"There seems to be a general misunderstanding that we're talking about a plan to build an Islamic, Sharia-friendly community. The EPIC neighborhood already exists in Plano. It's been there for nearly 12 years. With 74 residential properties, a massive mosque, schools, a medical clinic, and multiple businesses," he told the city council. "You have to be a member of their mosque to live there."
"This is not a matter of radicals hiding in plain sight; they're not hiding. They've been open about their beliefs and their intent," Deaton added.
On Wednesday, Paxton spoke with Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck about the governor's actions against EPIC, revealing interesting new details about the controversy.
"We're not going to sacrifice [our constitution] for Sharia law. It's just not going to happen in Texas," Paxton told Beck. "At the same time, we want to be cognizant that people have a right to have their own religion, and we respect that."
Paxton explained that the community cannot discriminate against potential residents based on religion, noting that doing so would violate housing laws.
He stated that he recently learned that the attorney representing EPIC City's developers, Dan Cogdell, is the same lawyer who previously defended him against impeachment. Paxton was acquitted of all charges in 2023.
The AG called it "a little concerning" that he was not made aware of that fact sooner.
"There definitely could be an argument that there's conflict because I'm still being represented by him and he's representing clients that we are investigating," Paxton told Beck.
EPIC responds
EPIC has denied claims that its proposed community will disregard state and federal laws to implement Sharia law.
Cogdell accused Abbott of spreading lies about the planned city, claiming that the project is "the victim of racial profiling."
"These aren't foreign adversaries. These are Texans. These are Americans. These are United States citizens," Cogdell told KTVT last week. "No one associated with EPIC, no one associated with that community follows Sharia law or is in favor of Sharia law."
Cogdell had a message for Abbott.
"Quit tweeting lies, false information, and nonsense. Because my clients right now, what they are doing is they are suffering from essentially gubernatorial hate speech," he stated.
Cogdell reportedly told KTVK that his clients have received "dozens of death threats." As a result, the developers were "too scared to go on camera," according to the news outlet.
When reached for comment, the governor's office referred KTVK to previously released statements.
Beck was offered an opportunity to speak with the project's developer on Thursday, only to discover that Cogdell had been tapped to talk on their behalf. Upon realizing this, Beck canceled, insisting that he wanted a candid conversation with the developer, not the attorney. The developer signaled interest in rescheduling for next week.
During Thursday's radio show, Beck stated, "I got an email from somebody who said, 'You know, you should talk to the developer directly.'"
The email read, "Given the amount of misinformation circulating, it might be beneficial to speak directly with the landowner developer to ensure accuracy."
"So I said yes to that on the program," Beck stated. "Then I find out that it's the lawyer. Well, what happened to the directly to the landowner developer? So they said he'll be prepared for our conversation sometime next week."
"I don't have anything bad to say about the developer if it's all on the up and up," he added. "It's just, there's some things about this, the people that are engaged in it, that are a little disturbing."
The developer did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.
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'We won't have Sharia law in Texas': Texas AG Paxton defends investigation into Muslim EPIC City development
The East Plano Islamic Center, a prominent mosque in Plano, Texas, is poised to build a 402-acre city called EPIC City, complete with a mosque, 1,000+ homes, a K-12 faith-based school, a community college, retail shops, parks, and senior housing. The project aims to serve the growing Muslim population in the region.
Unsurprisingly, the plans have been met with intense blowback from the surrounding communities and political figures alike. Back in February, Governor Greg Abbott (R) made it clear in an X post that the Lone Star State doesn’t tolerate Sharia law, the legal and ethical framework central to the Muslim faith. Polygamy, different rules for women, free speech restrictions, and violent punishments are some of the practices common in Sharia law that would be considered incompatible with U.S. law.
The project has been stalled by a number of investigations launched by various state agencies, one of them being the attorney general’s office.
Attorney General Ken Paxton recently joined the “Glenn Beck Program” to share the details of what’s going on with the investigations surrounding EPIC City.
“[Mormons] crossed the mountains and started their own community in Salt Lake, but they don't have a Mormon separate law. It's all based on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights,” says Glenn, but “is this that kind of community?”
“I don’t know the answer, and I do agree with you. We are a free country,” says Paxton, citing the religious freedom the First Amendment protects.
“On the other hand, you're right. We have laws in this country, and those laws matter. The Constitution matters, and if you're not following the laws of our country, then we're going to have some controversy and some contention,” he adds.
But there’s an ironic twist in this investigation: The attorney representing EPIC City and Community Capital Partners, LP, the corporate entity behind EPIC City, is Dan Cogdell, the same high-profile lawyer who defended Paxton during his 2023 impeachment trial.
Paxton tells Glenn that there could be some conflict of interest.
Glenn points out that Cogdell is claiming that “any investigation is just racial profiling.”
“I’m so sick of that stuff because I don't think that it is racial profiling. I think we have reason to be concerned,” he says, pointing to Europe, which has allowed Muslim communities to completely overrun certain regions, as an example of what we don’t want America to become.
“Sharia law is taking over whatever country they're in,” Paxton agrees. “The rule of law and our Constitution, what our founders put together — it is so beautiful and wonderful and given us freedom for so long. We're not going to sacrifice that for Sharia law. It's just not going to happen in Texas.”
Glenn’s next question is: But how do you actually know if Sharia law is in the plans for EPIC City?
“‘How to bring Sharia law into Texas’ — you're not going to find that pamphlet,” he says, so “what could you possibly find that would be solid enough to say no?”
“We're going to be looking at what people are actually doing out there. … How are [the developers] implementing this? Are they discriminating based on whether you are a part of a certain religion, because that would create issues with fair housing laws,” says Paxton. “We're going to be looking at what is the actual practice, not what are you saying. Not what is your promotional material.”
To hear more about the investigations surrounding EPIC City, Paxton’s thoughts on Cogdell representing his opposing party, and his plans to challenge John Cornyn for his U.S. Senate seat, watch the clip above.
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Exclusive: Paxton notches key endorsement from Texas congressman in fight to unseat Cornyn
Attorney General Ken Paxton has secured the endorsement of a key member of the Texas congressional delegation in his fight to unseat longtime U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas).
On Tuesday evening, Paxton officially declared that he would primary Cornyn, who is up for re-election in 2026. "John Cornyn has been in Washington for over two decades, and he has turned his back on President Trump and the America First agenda time after time," Paxton said in a statement obtained by Blaze News.
Now, just a few hours after making that announcement, Paxton has already received the backing of Republican Congressman Troy Nehls, who represents a district just outside Houston.
"I’m proud to be fully supporting and endorsing his campaign!" Nehls said in a statement obtained exclusively by Blaze News.
"Ken Paxton is a conservative warrior who has always stood with President Trump and been a champion for the people of Texas. During Joe Biden’s disastrous presidency, Attorney General Paxton sued the Biden Administration over 100 times and secured major victories against Biden’s lawless, open borders policies," the statement continued.
Gonzales ... characterized Cornyn as a 'RINO' — short for 'Republican in name only' — and a 'coward.'
First elected in 2002, Sen. Cornyn has lately been viewed as out of step with MAGA-supporting Texans and the Republican Party more generally. Just a few months ago, BlazeTV host and proud Texas native Sara Gonzales confronted Cornyn about repeatedly voting to send American tax dollars to Ukraine. "We have our own problems to deal with," Gonzales explained.
Gonzales later characterized Cornyn as a "RINO" — short for "Republican in name only" — and a "coward."
Cornyn responded to the news of Paxton's senatorial bid by calling the Texas attorney general a "fraud" and himself a "battle-tested conservative." Cornyn also suggested that his record demonstrates his commitment to President Trump and the MAGA agenda.
"During his first term John Cornyn voted with President Trump more than 95% of current senators, securing the votes for his biggest accomplishments as his Whip," Cornyn's statement said, according to the Quorum Report.
Nehls, an Army Reserve veteran and former sheriff who currently sits on the House Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, believes Paxton would be a stronger voice for Texas than Cornyn has been.
"He’s never once backed down from a fight or wavered in his commitment to doing what’s right," Nehls said of Paxton, "and he’s exactly the type of fighter we need representing us in the U.S. Senate."
Nehls is apparently not alone. According to a poll from the New York Times, Paxton is currently crushing Cornyn by 25 points in the Republican primary battle and would likely defeat a Democrat challenger in the general election as well.
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3 Arrested In Texas For Running Illegal Back-Alley Abortion Ring
Maria Rojas, Jose Ley, and Rubildo Matos were allegedly operating a network of Houston-area clinics providing illegal abortions.Unlicensed midwife, worker busted for performing illegal abortions: Texas AG Paxton
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced this week the arrest of three individuals tied to an investigation into illegal abortions.
On Monday, a press release from Paxton’s office stated that Maria Margarita Rojas, a 48-year-old midwife, was detained “for providing illegal abortions and illegally operating a network of clinics in the Northwest Houston area.”
'Anyone guilty of violating our state’s pro-life laws is held accountable.'
While Rojas’ clients referred to her as “Dr. Maria,” she now faces a second-degree felony for “practicing medicine without a license” and illegally performing abortions, according to Paxton’s office.
Rojas reportedly owned and operated several Texas health clinics, including Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring.
The AG’s office stated that the clinics “unlawfully employed unlicensed individuals who falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals to provide medical treatment.”
“Rojas also performed illegal abortion procedures in her clinics in direct violation of the Texas Human Life Protection Act,” the press release added. “In addition to the arrest, Attorney General Paxton’s Healthcare Program Enforcement Division filed for a temporary restraining order to shut down Rojas’s network of clinics to prevent further illegal activity.”
On Tuesday, Paxton’s office issued a second press release announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jose Manuel Cendan Ley, who allegedly assisted Rojas with at least one illegal abortion. He is also accused of practicing medicine without a license.
“Ley is a Cuban national who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was later paroled under the open borders policies enacted by the lawless Biden Administration,” Paxton’s office stated.
Citing court records, the Texas Tribune reported that Rojas was first arrested on March 6 and held on $10,000 bond for allegedly practicing without a medical license. On Monday, she was arrested again with Ley on additional charges, including performing illicit abortions. A Waller County judge set their bonds at $500,000 for the illegal abortion charges and $200,000 for charges related to practicing without a medical license.
Rubildo Labanino Matos, 54, was arrested as part of the same investigation. Matos, a nurse practitioner placed on probation, is also accused of the unlicensed practice of medicine.
Paxton’s office stated that the investigation remains ongoing.
“Individuals killing unborn babies by performing illegal abortions in Texas will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and I will not rest until justice is served,” Paxton said. “I will continue to fight to protect life and work to ensure that anyone guilty of violating our state’s pro-life laws is held accountable.”
Paxton’s office noted that abortion providers, not patients, can be held criminally responsible under Texas law.
Rojas did not respond to a request for comment from KPRC. Calls to her clinics were not answered, the Texas Tribune reported.
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