Former Trump Spiritual Adviser Robert Morris Indicted on Child Sexual Abuse Charges

Former Trump Spiritual Adviser Robert Morris Indicted on Child Sexual Abuse Charges, Faces Possible Prison Time
A grand jury in Oklahoma has indicted Robert Morris, the founder of Texas-based Gateway Church and former spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump, on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a minor. The charges, announced on March 12, 2025, relate to alleged sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, meaning Morris could face up to 100 years behind bars if convicted on all charges. While Morris has not yet been taken into custody, he is expected to turn himself in to authorities in Osage County District Court next week.

A Prominent Religious Leader’s Fall from Grace
Robert Morris, 63, established Gateway Church in 2000 in the Dallas suburb of Southlake. Under his leadership, the church grew into one of the largest megachurches in the United States, reportedly attracting over 100,000 attendees across multiple locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Morris became a towering figure in evangelical circles, known not only for his religious leadership but also for his political connections, particularly with former President Donald Trump.

During Trump’s first term in office, Morris served on the president’s spiritual advisory committee and Evangelical Executive Advisory Board. The relationship between Morris and Trump was publicly visible when the then-president visited Gateway Church in June 2020 for a “Roundtable on Transition to Greatness” that included attendance by then-U.S. Attorney General William Barr and other prominent Republicans. During that visit, Trump praised Morris, calling him a “highly respectable man”.

Morris’s influence extended beyond his church and presidential connections. In 2017, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sought Morris’s support for the controversial “Bathroom Bill” that aimed to prohibit transgender individuals from using their preferred bathrooms. Morris backed the bill by arguing it would protect children from sexual abuse – an ironic position given the current charges against him.

Decades-Old Allegations Lead to Criminal Charges
The indictment comes less than a year after Morris resigned from his position as senior pastor at Gateway Church following public accusations of sexual abuse. Cindy Clemishire, now 55, came forward with allegations that Morris had sexually abused her beginning in 1982 when she was just 12 years old. According to the indictment, Morris was 21 at the time and working as a traveling evangelist when he stayed with Clemishire’s family in Hominy, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced the charges on Wednesday, emphasizing the seriousness of the case. “There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children,” Drummond stated. “This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice to be done”.

The five felony counts detailed in the indictment allege that Morris inappropriately touched Clemishire’s intimate areas when she was between 12 and 14 years old. The abuse reportedly began when her family invited the then-young preacher to their home on Christmas Day in 1982 and continued for approximately four years.

The Victim’s Journey to Justice
Clemishire first encountered Morris when she was 11 years old and he was 20, while he was preaching at her church. The relationship between Morris and her family grew close, with the pastor even staying at their home during visits. According to Clemishire, the abuse began on Christmas when she turned 12, with Morris allegedly warning her, “Don’t tell anyone this because it will ruin me”.

In a powerful statement released after the indictment, Clemishire expressed her relief that legal action was finally being taken. “After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child,” she said. “Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable. My family and I are deeply grateful to the authorities who have worked tirelessly to make this day possible and remain hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail”.

Clemishire has shared that it took her many years to recognize that what had transpired was indeed abuse and a criminal act. Her allegations were first reported on the religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch and later confirmed by The Dallas Morning News. She told local media last year that her family never supported Morris’s return to ministry, contradicting Morris’s claim that her family had forgiven him.

Responses and Repercussions
In response to Clemishire’s allegations last year, Morris admitted to having engaged in “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady” in a statement to The Christian Post. He described the misconduct as “kissing and petting and not intercourse,” claiming that he had confessed and sought forgiveness from church elders and the victim’s father in 1987. However, these admissions did not prevent the criminal investigation from proceeding.

The scandal has had significant ramifications for Gateway Church. After the allegations emerged, the church reportedly saw donations plummet sharply. According to some reports, the church faced a class-action lawsuit for financial fraud, with claims that only a small portion of the church’s annual $100 million income was directed toward international ministries. In November 2024, following an internal investigation, Gateway Church removed four elders from their positions.

Upon the announcement of the indictment, Gateway Church released a statement expressing their prayers for Clemishire and others affected by the distressing situation. “We are aware of actions being taken by the authorities in Oklahoma and are thankful for the justice system’s efforts in holding abusers accountable for their actions,” the church stated.

Political Fallout
The Trump campaign has distanced itself from Morris since the allegations became public. A spokesperson for Trump stated in 2024 that Morris would not be involved in the upcoming presidential campaign and clarified that Trump had been unaware of the accusations against Morris. The statement marked a significant shift in the relationship between the former president and the once-influential spiritual adviser.

The Legal Process Ahead
As of March 13, 2025, Morris had not been taken into custody, according to reports from the Associated Press. He is expected to turn himself in to authorities in Osage County District Court next week to face the charges formally. If convicted on all five counts, Morris could potentially face up to 100 years in prison, with each charge carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years.

The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office noted that the statute of limitations was “not applicable in this case because Morris was not a resident or inhabitant of Oklahoma at any time”. This legal point has allowed prosecutors to pursue charges for alleged crimes that occurred more than four decades ago.

A Case That Transcends Time
The indictment of Robert Morris represents a significant moment in the ongoing national conversation about accountability for sexual abuse, particularly when it involves religious leaders. The case demonstrates that the passage of time does not necessarily shield alleged perpetrators from facing justice for their actions.

For Cindy Clemishire, the indictment marks a crucial step in her decades-long journey toward healing and justice. Her courage in coming forward has led to formal charges against a once-powerful religious figure who had connections to the highest levels of American politics. As she noted in her statement, it is now up to the legal system to determine Morris’s ultimate fate and potentially provide the closure she has sought for nearly 43 years.

The case against Morris will likely continue to unfold in the coming months as he faces arraignment and potential trial. For now, the indictment serves as a reminder that no matter how much time has passed or how influential the accused may be, allegations of child sexual abuse are taken seriously by law enforcement and prosecutors determined to seek justice for victims.