anti-Muslim sentiment

Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Muslim Brotherhood, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and its local Texas chapters, asking a court to shut them down. His office previously argued the local chapters were not part of Texas' foreign terrorist designation.

As the GOP and its factions debate what constitutes American identity, opposition to Islam has become a key campaign pillar for some Texas Republicans in statewide races and beyond.

Gov. Greg Abbott filed the designation letter Tuesday.

It comes days after reporting by KERA News revealed TFSC Presiding Officer Kristin Tips texted an anti-Muslim graphic and links in May to the commission's then-executive director Scott Bingaman.