Former City Attorney Michael Gates Refutes Dismissal Claims from Department of Justice

Former Huntington Beach city attorney Michael Gates has strongly denied allegations that he was fired from his position at the U.S. Department of Justice over claims of creating a hostile work environment.

Gates, who served as a deputy assistant U.S. attorney general in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division for approximately 10 months, announced his resignation on social media last weekend. In an interview with the Daily Pilot on Monday, he cited missing his family as the primary reason for his departure, adding that the ongoing government shutdown factored into his decision to return to Huntington Beach as chief assistant city attorney effective November 24.

However, the situation took a controversial turn when the Orange County Register obtained an SF-52 employment document indicating Gates was actually terminated “for cause.” According to the document, the termination was authorized by Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general overseeing the Civil Rights Division.

The Register’s report, published Friday, also cited an unnamed Justice Department source who alleged Gates created a hostile work environment in Washington, D.C., and displayed derogatory behavior toward women during his tenure.

In a Friday interview, Gates vehemently rejected these claims. “Not a single complaint was ever brought to my attention by anybody while I was there, whether informal or formal,” he stated. “While I was there, I was a consummate professional, so I was pretty shocked by this [news report].”

Gates challenged the authenticity of the SF-52 form, noting it was unsigned and undated when he first saw it on Friday. “I think that should draw the scrutiny of any casual reader,” he said. “I believe the form was leaked by somebody high up in the DOJ who was really upset that I resigned… and they are now retaliating against me.”

The former city attorney said he plans to secure the services of a defamation lawyer to address the allegations. He also pointed out that he is the fourth deputy assistant attorney general to resign since April, suggesting a pattern of departures from the division.

To counter the accusations, Gates produced text messages he claims were exchanged with Assistant Attorney General Dhillon in September, in which she allegedly expressed appreciation for his work and sacrifices.

The controversy has prompted a response from the city of Huntington Beach, which released a statement Friday afternoon acknowledging the Register’s article. “The city of Huntington Beach has become aware of an O.C. Register article published this morning regarding Michael Gates. We take such matters seriously and are actively investigating,” the statement read.

Gates served as Huntington Beach’s city attorney from 2014 to 2024 and has publicly stated his intention to run for the elected office again next year. The city’s attorney position is currently held by Mike Vigliotta, a longtime assistant who worked under Gates.

This is not the first time Gates’ leadership has faced scrutiny. In 2021, Huntington Beach paid $2.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by two senior deputy city attorneys from his office who alleged age discrimination. One of those attorneys, Scott Field, subsequently challenged Gates in the following year’s city attorney election but was unsuccessful.

The U.S. Justice Department has not responded to requests for comment on the matter, leaving questions about the circumstances of Gates’ departure unresolved as he prepares to return to his municipal legal career in Huntington Beach.