Former megachurch pastor Robert Morris — who was once President Donald Trump’s campaign spiritual adviser — has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child.
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In 2000, Morris became one of the founding pastors of the Gateway megachurch in Southlake, Texas (outside of Dallas). Morris helped build the church into one of the largest congregations in the country. In 2016, he was appointed to Trump’s evangelical advisory board during his presidential campaign.
In 2020, Trump appeared at a roundtable discussion with faith leaders in Texas. He thanked two pastors for attending, one of whom was Morris. He said, “They’re great people. Great people with a great reputation. I have to say that. Great reputation. And Gateway Church — the team has been incredible in hosting us.”
Megachurch Pastor Robert Morris Previously Admitted To Child Sex Abuse Before 2025 Conviction
Before this, in 1982, an Oklahoma woman named Cindy Clemishire, now 55, accused the pastor, who was in his early 20s, of sexually abusing on Christmas night. She alleged that it began when she was 12 and continued until she the age of 16. She kept the secret until 1987, when she told her parents and leaders at her church. Morris went through, what he later described, as a “restoration process” in the late 1980s before returning to ministry.
In 2024, Morris admitted to some of the allegations against him to the Christian Post and resigned from his church shortly after. Referring to the child, he said, “When I was in my early 20s, I was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying.”
While speaking to the court from a prepared victim statement, Clemishire said, “There is no such thing as consent from a 12-year-old child. We were never in an ‘inappropriate relationship.’ I was not a ‘young lady’ but a child. You committed a crime against me.”
On October 2, the 64-year-old pastor entered a guilty plea on his child sex abuse charges in Osage County District Court. Morris pleaded guilty to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. He was given a 10-year suspended sentence, now leaving him to only serve six months in Osage County Jail. As part of his plea deal, Morris must also register as a sex offender and pay $250,000 in restitution.
Morris’ lawyer told reporters that he “sincerely apologizes for his conduct.” Meanwhile, speaking on the verdict, Clemishire, who was surrounded by family in court, saidL
“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. My hope is that many victims hear my story, and it can help lift their shame and allow them to speak up.”
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