AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has formally requested the suspension of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, sending a letter on Tuesday to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
In the letter, Abbott asks the Treasury to investigate CAIR, citing official documents that allegedly describe the group as a “direct subsidiary of the Muslim Brotherhood” and a “front group” for Hamas in the United States. At the time of publishing, Secretary Bessent has not publicly responded to the request.
This move follows Abbott’s actions last month, when he designated CAIR as a “successor organization” of the Muslim Brotherhood and as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under the Texas Penal Code. That designation exposes CAIR to potential civil and criminal penalties, including restrictions on purchasing land in Texas.
Abbott’s latest letter is the most recent development in a continuing exchange between state officials and Texas Islamic leaders regarding CAIR’s activities and legal status.