Robert Preston Morris, a 63-year-old megachurch founder and a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump, has been indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
The charges stem from allegations of sexual abuse dating back to the 1980s, when Morris was a traveling evangelist.
The indictment, announced by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Wednesday, alleges that Morris began sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl, identified as C.C., in 1982.
The abuse reportedly continued for four years, while Morris was staying with the victim’s family in Hominy, Oklahoma.
Morris, who resigned last summer as senior pastor of the Southlake, Texas-based Gateway Church, now faces up to 20 years in prison for each charge.
“There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children,” said Drummond. “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 victim, Cindy Clemishire, now 55, broke her silence last year, detailing the horrific abuse she endured as a child.
“After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child,” Clemishire said. “Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable.”
Morris’ indictment is not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader pattern of scandal involving figures closely associated with former President Donald Trump. Morris, whose church hosted Trump in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy, has long been a vocal supporter of the former president.
Trump himself has faced numerous allegations of sexual misconduct over the years. Most notably, writer E. Jean Carroll successfully sued Trump for defamation after accusing him of raping her in the 1990s. A jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, ordering him to pay $5 million in damages.
At least 26 women have credibly accused Trump of sexual harassment or assault, allegations he has repeatedly denied.
The Trump administration and inner circle have also been marred by scandals involving sexual misconduct and abuse.
Among the most notorious cases is that of longtime Trump ally and campaign advisor George Nader, who was convicted in 2020 on charges of possessing child pornography and transporting a minor for sexual activity. Nader is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence.
Perry Hooper, Jr., Trump’s 2016 Alabama campaign co-chairman was arrested on August 23, 2022, and charged with first-degree sex abuse related in connection to an incident that involved groping and kissing a woman at a local restaurant while she was working.
Another Trump associate, Steve Bannon, was pardoned by Trump in the final hours of his presidency after being charged with fraud related to a fundraising scheme. While Bannon’s case did not involve sexual abuse, it underscores the culture of impunity that has surrounded Trump’s inner circle.
Gateway Church in Crisis: Financial Misconduct Allegations Compound Scandal
As Morris faces criminal charges, Gateway Church is also embroiled in a separate legal battle over alleged financial misconduct. A class-action lawsuit filed by church members accuses Morris and other leaders of misrepresenting how tithes were used. The lawsuit claims that Morris promised congregants that 15% of their donations would go to global missions and Jewish ministry partners, but plaintiffs allege this was a false representation.
The lawsuit, which seeks over $1 million in damages, also highlights Morris’ past promises to refund tithes to dissatisfied members—a promise the church allegedly refused to honor. “This is about transparency and accountability,” said attorney Micah Dortch, who represents the plaintiffs. “Church leaders cannot make financial promises they have no intention of keeping.”
Morris, who has largely remained out of the public eye since resigning from Gateway Church, has reportedly reappeared to fight the lawsuit. His attorneys argue that the case should be dismissed, citing the “ecclesiastical abstention doctrine,” which they claim bars courts from interfering in matters of religious doctrine and internal church governance.
The indictment of Robert Morris and the ongoing legal battles surrounding Gateway Church raise troubling questions about the culture of impunity that has allowed powerful figures to evade accountability for decades. Morris’ alleged crimes, like those of other Trump associates, highlight the urgent need for systemic reform to ensure that no one—regardless of their position or influence—is above the law.
For Cindy Clemishire, the indictment marks a long-overdue step toward justice. “I am grateful to the authorities who have worked to make this indictment possible,” she said. “I hope that justice will ultimately prevail.”
As the legal proceedings unfold, the world will be watching to see whether Robert Morris and others like him will finally be held accountable for their actions—or whether the cycle of scandal and impunity will continue unchecked.