Former Trump spiritual adviser Robert Morris, founder of one of the United States’ largest megachurches, has pleaded guilty to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. The 64-year-old pastor, once a powerful figure in conservative Christian and political circles, surrendered earlier this year and entered his plea in an Oklahoma court in October 2025.
The case involves abuse that began more than 40 years ago. According to investigators, the victim, Cindy Clemishire, was just 12 years old when Morris then a young traveling evangelist-initiated years of sexual misconduct. The abuse lasted from 1982 to 1986.
The criminal case was pursued by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office, which filed charges after a lengthy investigation into Clemishire’s allegations.
Under the plea agreement, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence, with the requirement that he serve six months in county jail. He must also pay $250,000 in restitution to the victim and is now required to register as a sex offender.
Cindy Clemishire, who waited decades for justice, released a statement saying she finally feels heard and validated. She emphasized that she was a child—not a “young lady,” as Morris previously described her—calling the conviction an important acknowledgment of the harm she endured.
Morris publicly resigned from his role as senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, in 2024 after the abuse allegations surfaced. Although he initially characterized his behavior as “inappropriate kissing and petting,” the criminal charges and his subsequent guilty plea revealed a much more serious pattern of abuse.
His conviction has sent shockwaves through the evangelical community and the political circles where he once wielded influence. Morris served on Donald Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board during Trump’s first presidential term, and Gateway Church famously hosted a presidential roundtable in 2020. The case has raised difficult questions about accountability, power, and the response of religious institutions to allegations of abuse.
The Oklahoma Attorney General condemned Morris’s actions, noting that the betrayal was especially egregious because Morris used his position of spiritual authority to exploit a child.
The fallout has also affected Gateway Church leadership. Several elders were removed after it was revealed that they either knew about the allegations years ago or failed to properly investigate when concerns were raised. The case has reignited a national conversation about transparency in churches and the responsibility of faith leaders to protect congregants—especially minors.
As the legal chapter closes, advocates say the case highlights the importance of believing survivors and ensuring that time does not hinder the pursuit of justice.
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