Excerpt:
An ongoing Justice Department investigation into Henrico County's denial of a Muslim mosque three years ago was weighing on county planners and supervisors when they reversed course and approved the mosque this summer.
Federal documents released Tuesday, which announced a settlement of allegations that the county had violated federal law in rejecting the mosque in 2008, show that Planning Commission members and supervisors as well as staffers had been interviewed by Justice Department investigators months before backers of the mosque submitted a new application.
On June 14 this year, Henrico County Attorney Joseph P. Rapisarda Jr. met with supervisors and Planning Commission members who decided to invite mosque backers to reapply, federal documents show.