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Former Trump Evangelical Adviser Robert Morris Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse
Robert Morris, founder and former senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, has pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, according to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office. The case has drawn significant attention due to Morris’s past association with former President Donald Trump’s evangelical advisory board.
Morris entered his guilty plea on October 2, 2025, before an Osage County judge as part of a plea agreement. The abuse, which began in December 1982, involved Cindy Clemishire, who was 12 years old at the time. According to Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s office, Morris continued to abuse Clemishire over a four-year period while working as a traveling evangelist.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence and will serve six months in the Osage County Jail. Court records confirm he was booked on October 2. Additionally, Morris must register as a sex offender and will be supervised by Texas authorities. The court ordered him to pay for his incarceration costs, including any medical expenses, and provide restitution to his victim.
In a statement following the plea, Clemishire said, “Today justice has finally been served, and the man who manipulated, groomed and abused me as a 12-year-old innocent girl is finally going to be behind bars.” She expressed hope that her story would encourage other victims to speak up and that laws would continue to evolve to better protect children.
“Today is a new beginning for me, my family and friends who have been by my side through this horrendous journey. I leave this courtroom today not as a victim, but a survivor,” she added.
The case has gained particular attention due to Morris’s past connections to political figures, most notably former President Donald Trump. In June 2016, Trump’s presidential campaign appointed Morris to its Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, according to a news release archived by The American Presidency Project. The board was tasked with advising Trump on “issues important to Evangelicals and other people of faith in America.”
Morris’s relationship with Trump extended beyond the 2016 campaign. In June 2020, he participated in a White House roundtable discussion at Gateway Church’s Dallas campus, where Trump met with faith leaders and law enforcement officials. According to The Texas Tribune, Morris was also involved in efforts to mobilize conservatives and evangelicals ahead of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
However, a White House official has explicitly denied that Morris currently serves in any advisory capacity to President Trump, telling Snopes, “This is false, he is not the President’s spiritual adviser.” A spokesperson for Trump’s 2024 campaign told The New York Times in June that Morris had no role in the campaign, though the exact timing of when Morris ceased having any formal connection to Trump remains unclear.
Morris’s legal troubles became public in June 2024, when he resigned as senior pastor at Gateway Church just three days after confessing to engaging in “sexual behavior” with a child during the 1980s, as reported by NBC News. He was subsequently indicted by a multi-county grand jury in 2025.
Beyond his Trump connections, Morris was also active in Texas state politics. In 2017, Texas Governor Greg Abbott urged Morris and other faith leaders to gather support for the controversial “Bathroom Bill,” which sought to restrict transgender people from using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity.
Gateway Church, which Morris founded, has become one of the largest megachurches in the United States, with multiple campuses across the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and tens of thousands of weekly attendees. The church has not issued a public statement regarding Morris’s guilty plea as of this report.
The case highlights the ongoing national conversation about accountability for sexual abuse, particularly within religious institutions, and the intersection of faith leadership with political power and influence.
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8 Comments
While the details are still emerging, the allegations against Robert Morris are very serious. If proven true, this would be a grave betrayal of the public’s trust. I hope the legal process can uncover the full truth and ensure justice is served.
Absolutely. High-profile figures like Morris must be held to the highest standards, especially when it comes to the abuse of minors. No one should be above the law, regardless of their religious or political connections.
Child sexual abuse is never acceptable, no matter who the perpetrator is. If the allegations against Robert Morris are true, it’s a heartbreaking violation of the trust placed in him as a spiritual leader. Thorough investigation and appropriate consequences are essential to prevent future abuse.
I agree completely. The well-being of vulnerable children must be the top priority, not protecting the reputation of religious figures. Hopefully this case prompts broader reforms to address systemic issues of abuse within certain institutions.
This is a troubling case. If the allegations are true, it’s extremely concerning that a prominent evangelical leader could engage in such abusive behavior. The justice system must hold all perpetrators of child sexual abuse accountable, regardless of their position or influence.
I agree, this is a deeply disturbing situation. Protecting vulnerable children should be the top priority, not enabling abusers. Hopefully this case serves as a wake-up call for greater oversight and accountability within religious institutions.
This is a deeply unsettling situation. While the details are still emerging, the allegations against Robert Morris are extremely serious. If proven true, it’s a profound betrayal of the public’s trust in religious leadership. Rigorous investigation and accountability are critical to ensure justice is served.
This is a sobering reminder that even trusted spiritual leaders can sometimes abuse their power. The details of this case are disturbing, and I hope the victim receives the support and justice they deserve. Rigorous oversight and accountability are critical in all institutions, including religious ones.