Robert Morris, the influential pastor and former spiritual adviser to Donald Trump, has been indicted on five counts of lewd acts with a child. The charges stem from allegations that Morris sexually abused a 12-year-old girl over the course of four years in the 1980s.
The victim, Cindy Clemishire, publicly accused Morris of ongoing sexual abuse from 1982 to 1987, beginning when she was just 12 years old. According to her statements, Morris—then 21—molested her repeatedly in both Texas and Oklahoma, betraying his position of trust and authority.
The Oklahoma grand jury officially indicted Morris on March 12, 2025, charging him with five counts of lewd acts with a child. Each count carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Morris’s Resignation and Church Fallout
Once the allegations surfaced in mid-2024, Morris resigned from his position as senior pastor of Gateway Church, a Texas-based megachurch he founded in 2000. The church, once a beacon of conservative Christian leadership, has since been rocked by scandal.
In the wake of the revelations, an internal investigation exposed further misconduct within the church’s leadership. At least four church elders were removed after it was discovered that they either knew about the abuse and covered it up or failed to act upon hearing of the allegations.
Legal and Political Repercussions
The case has sparked outrage among faith communities and political figures, particularly given Morris’s longstanding ties to conservative leadership and his role as a spiritual adviser to Trump during his presidency.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a scathing statement, condemning the abuse and emphasizing the betrayal of trust by a man who built his career on faith and morality.
“This indictment sends a clear message: No one is above the law, especially those who exploit their religious authority to prey on children,” Drummond said.
A Call for Justice
Morris remains out of custody as his legal team prepares a defense, but pressure is mounting for a swift and thorough trial. Advocacy groups for sexual abuse survivors are calling for other potential victims to come forward, stressing the importance of holding religious institutions accountable for shielding abusers.
With the trial looming, the once-revered pastor now faces a reckoning not only in the courts but in the eyes of the public and the faith community he once led.