Former megachurch pastor Robert Morris — who was as soon as President Donald Trump’s marketing campaign religious adviser — has pleaded responsible to sexually abusing a baby.
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In 2000, Morris grew to become one of many founding pastors of the Gateway megachurch in Southlake, Texas (outdoors of Dallas). Morris helped construct the church into one of many largest congregations within the nation. In 2016, he was appointed to Trump’s evangelical advisory board throughout his presidential marketing campaign.
In 2020, Trump appeared at a roundtable dialogue with religion leaders in Texas. He thanked two pastors for attending, considered one of whom was Morris. He stated, “They’re nice folks. Nice folks with an ideal popularity. I’ve to say that. Nice popularity. And Gateway Church — the staff has been unbelievable in internet hosting us.”
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Megachurch Pastor Robert Morris Beforehand Admitted To Little one Intercourse Abuse Earlier than 2025 Conviction
Earlier than this, in 1982, an Oklahoma lady named Cindy Clemishire, now 55, accused the pastor, who was in his early 20s, of sexually abusing on Christmas night time. She alleged that it started when she was 12 and continued till she the age of 16. She saved the key till 1987, when she advised her dad and mom and leaders at her church. Morris went by, what he later described, as a “restoration course of” within the late Nineteen Eighties earlier than returning to ministry.
In 2024, Morris admitted to a number of the allegations in opposition to him to the Christian Put up and resigned from his church shortly after. Referring to the kid, he stated, “Once I was in my early 20s, I used to be concerned in inappropriate sexual habits with a younger girl in a house the place I used to be staying.”
Whereas talking to the courtroom from a ready sufferer assertion, Clemishire stated, “There is no such thing as a such factor as consent from a 12-year-old youngster. We had been by no means in an ‘inappropriate relationship.’ I used to be not a ‘younger girl’ however a baby. You dedicated against the law in opposition to me.”
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On October 2, the 64-year-old pastor entered a responsible plea on his youngster intercourse abuse fees in Osage County District Court docket. Morris pleaded responsible to 5 felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a baby. He was given a 10-year suspended sentence, now leaving him to solely serve six months in Osage County Jail. As a part of his plea deal, Morris should additionally register as a intercourse offender and pay $250,000 in restitution.
Morris’ lawyer advised reporters that he “sincerely apologizes for his conduct.” In the meantime, talking on the decision, Clemishire, who was surrounded by household in courtroom, saidL
“Justice has lastly been served, and the person who manipulated, groomed and abused me as a 12-year-old harmless woman is lastly going to be behind bars. My hope is that many victims hear my story, and it could actually assist carry their disgrace and permit them to talk up.”
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