Robert Morris, Megachurch Founder and Former Trump Advisor, Indicted on Child Sex Abuse Charges
Robert Morris, the prominent founder of Gateway Church, a Texas-based megachurch, and a former spiritual advisor to President Donald Trump, has been indicted by an Oklahoma grand jury on five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. The charges stem from alleged incidents involving a 12-year-old girl that purportedly occurred over a four-year period, beginning in 1982.
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office officially announced the indictment, detailing that the alleged acts involved a minor. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children. This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position."
Cindy Clemishire, the accuser, released a statement through The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, after the indictment was made public. She stated, "After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child."
USA TODAY made attempts to contact Morris’s attorney, Mack Martin, for comment but did not receive an immediate response. Martin also declined to comment to The Oklahoman.
The allegations against Morris first surfaced publicly when Clemishire identified herself in a blog post on The Wartburg Watch, a platform dedicated to exposing sexual abuse within religious institutions. Subsequently, Morris admitted to unspecified wrongdoing in statements to the media last year, referencing "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying" during his early twenties.
While USA TODAY typically refrains from naming victims of sexual abuse, Clemishire has openly shared her story, expressing the importance of her doing so. In her blog post, Clemishire recounted meeting Morris at a youth revival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when she was 11 years old and he was 20. At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist with his wife, Debbie.
Clemishire said Morris would preach at her church on Sundays, and he, Debbie, and their son would occasionally stay at her family’s home. She initially perceived him as "safe and friendly," she explained.
The alleged abuse began on Christmas in 1982 when Morris purportedly asked the 12-year-old Clemishire to visit him in his room that night. Initially, Clemishire said she did not suspect anything unusual. However, once in his room, she alleged that he sexually abused her and warned her to "Never tell anyone about this because it will ruin everything." Clemishire stated that the abuse continued in Oklahoma and Texas until 1987.
In response to the allegations, Morris resigned from Gateway Church in June. Prior to his resignation, the church had initiated an independent investigation by a law firm into the allegations, which resulted in the removal of several elders in November. Tra Willbanks, an elder at Gateway Church, stated that the church and its current leadership were not subject to the investigation.
Clemishire’s decision to come forward publicly was motivated by a desire to encourage other victims to share their stories. She told USA TODAY, "Any and all victims, come forward… I just don’t believe that I’m the only person."
The Attorney General’s office clarified that the statute of limitations was not applicable to Morris’s charges because he was not a resident of Oklahoma during the relevant period.
The indictment was issued by the state’s multicounty grand jury following two days of closed-door testimony, according to The Oklahoman.
The indictment will be filed for prosecution in Osage County District Court, where Morris is expected to surrender himself next week.
Beyond his role as a megachurch founder, Morris had a significant presence in the political sphere, serving on Trump’s spiritual advisory board during the 2016 campaign and the first term of his presidency. However, he was not involved in Trump’s 2024 reelection efforts, according to the Trump campaign last year.
Morris cultivated a vast media presence, hosting a television program that aired in over 190 countries and a radio program broadcast in more than 6,800 cities, as noted in his biography on the Gateway Church website. His YouTube page, which is no longer online, boasted 80,000 subscribers and featured videos with titles like "Freedom Through Forgiveness" and "Did You Know You’re Made Perfect By God’s Grace?"
