The owners of Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby are under federal investigation for improperly importing religious artifacts, according to a report by The Daily Beast.
Several hundred clay tablets inscribed with cuneiform were seized by U.S. Customs in 2011 when they were traveling to the Hobby Lobby headquarters in Oklahoma City from Israel. The tablets were meant for display in the Museum of the Bible, the construction of which is largely funded by the Green family, who own the craft store chain.
Cary Summers, the president of the Museum of the Bible, confirmed to The Daily Beast this week that the tablets were seized, and that the company is under investigation for improperly filled out paperwork regarding the tablets.
In a statement, the company said, “Hobby Lobby is cooperating with the investigation related to certain biblical artifacts intended to be exhibited at the planned Museum of the Bible. The Museum of the Bible is a separate not-for-profit entity made possible, in part, by the generous charitable contributions of the Green family.”
According to the museum’s website, it is a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol and will open in 2017. It will display biblical texts and artifacts, a biblical garden and has a performing arts hall and ballroom for lectures and other events.
