Texas AG Opens Investigation Into San Antonio Banning Chick-Fil-A From City’s Airport

On Thursday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Christian conservative, sent a letter to San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg and members of the city council announcing that he was opening an investigation into San Antonio’s decision to exclude Chick-fil-A, which has strong Christian views, from opening concession facilities in an airport terminal.

As The Texas Tribune noted of Chick-fil-A, “Its corporate purpose is ‘to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.’ It is, famously, ‘closed on Sundays.’”

Paxton wrote:

Dear Mayor Nirenberg and City Councilmembers:

The Constitution’s protection of religious liberty is somehow even better than Chick-fil- A’s chicken. Unfortunately, I have serious concerns that both are under assault at the San Antonio airport. Please see the enclosed letter from my office to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao highlighting my concerns that the City’s recent action to remove Chick-fil-A from the City’s new airport concessionaire contract may violate federal law and applicable federal regulations. You should also note that I have directed my office to open an investigation into whether the City’s action violates state law. I trust the City will fully cooperate with my investigation into this matter, and will abide by relevant federal and state laws in the future.

In his letter to Chao, Paxton asked the federal Department of Transportation to “open an investigation into San Antonio’s potential breach of federal law and your agency’s regulations prohibiting religious discrimination by federal grant recipients.”