Nearly 50 Islamic and Chinese private schools in Texas were investigated by the state comptroller's office after receiving tips from a British man who had previously been ordered to pay more than $173,000 in libel damages for making unsubstantiated terrorism allegations, according to new legal filings. The investigation delayed the schools' participation in the state's new voucher program before they were ultimately admitted.
The man, Sam Westrop, published articles on his website alleging that leaders of Islamic private schools applying to Texas's school choice program had connections to extremist groups such as Hamas. He shared his research with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts last fall, records show. In December, Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock asked Attorney General Ken Paxton whether schools could be excluded from the voucher program for hosting events for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) or having alleged ties to the Chinese Communist government. Paxton ruled in January that such exclusions were permissible.
Four Islamic school campuses filed suit against the state comptroller in March after initially being kept out of the program. The schools, which have since been accepted into the voucher program, are seeking class-action certification to prevent future discrimination. Legal filings detail an eight-hour deposition of Murl Miller, the comptroller's chief counsel for general litigation, taken in May as part of the lawsuit.
What the Left Is Saying
Attorneys representing the Islamic schools argue that the investigations were discriminatory and violated constitutional protections for religious freedom. "Religious liberty is not a temporary pass issued after a lawsuit," said Eric Hudson, an attorney for the schools. "We're pressing on so equal treatment is the rule — not an exception granted under pressure."
CAIR, designated as a terrorist organization by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in November, has filed its own lawsuit challenging the designation, arguing it was issued "without due process and in violation of federal law." The Muslim civil-rights organization contends that hosting events for the group should not disqualify schools from state programs.
School administrators have emphasized that they underwent standard credentialing processes and meet all legal requirements to participate in educational programs. They argue that the broad investigation swept up institutions based on religious identity rather than substantive concerns about their operations.
What the Right Is Saying
The comptroller's office has maintained that it did not purposefully target Islamic schools. Agency officials said the institutions were caught up in a wider review of approximately 700 private schools accredited by Cognia, a nonprofit that vets tens of thousands of schools worldwide. The agency stated it was unaware which specific schools would be affected when launching its accreditation review.
State lawyers have objected to certifying the lawsuit as a class action, arguing in a June 26 filing that the case should not proceed because "Plaintiffs received not only the initial approval they sought, but also the continuing ability to participate in the Program on the same footing as all other approved providers and families." The state contends that a class-action claim falls outside the jurisdiction of the current court.
Texas officials have pointed to national security concerns justifying scrutiny of foreign-funded educational institutions. Governor Abbott's designation of CAIR as a terrorist organization reflects broader Republican efforts to restrict organizations allegedly linked to extremist ideologies from accessing public resources or influence.
What the Numbers Show
Westrop was ordered by a British court to pay more than $173,000 in libel damages after publishing an article on his website calling the founder of a London-based Islamic TV channel a "convicted terrorist." Court filings indicate Westrop later admitted the underlying evidence for that claim was not reliable and corrected the story. A judge wrote that "there simply was no evidence to support the allegation of terrorism."
The Texas investigation covered nearly 50 private schools with alleged ties to radical Islamic organizations and the Chinese government — a number that exceeds previous reporting on the scope of the probe. The state used taxpayer money to contract with two private investigators as part of the inquiry.
Approximately 700 private schools accredited by Cognia were subject to review during this period, according to the comptroller's office. Four Islamic school campuses filed the initial lawsuit in March after being excluded from the voucher program, which provides taxpayer-funded scholarships for eligible families seeking private education or homeschooling.
The Bottom Line
The case raises questions about how Texas administers its new voucher program and whether religious minorities face additional scrutiny compared to other applicants. While all investigated schools have now been admitted to the program, the plaintiffs argue that without class-action status, future administrations could reinstate similar practices.
A judge has not yet ruled on the motion for class-action certification. If approved, the lawsuit could set precedent limiting state discretion in evaluating voucher applicants based on religious or national origin considerations. The parallel CAIR litigation challenging Governor Abbott's terrorist designation remains pending and could have broader implications for how federal law intersects with state designations of extremist organizations.