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Former Trump advisor sexually abused child

Theo

The pastor of a Dallas megachurch who previously served as a spiritual adviser to Donald Trump has admitted to “inappropriate sexual conduct” toward a 12-year-old girl in the 1980s, according to a statement from local ABC affiliate WFAA.

Last Friday, the blog The Wartburg Watch published the account of Cindy Clemishire, who accused the pastor and founder of the Gateway Church, Robert Morris, of sexually molesting her when she was 12 years old. The evangelical church is one of the largest in the United States and was founded by Morris in 2000.

Clemishire said the abuse lasted several years, from December 1982 to 1987.

On Sunday, Morris admitted to “inappropriate behavior toward a young lady,” according to WFAA, but did not give her name or age.

“When I was in my early twenties, I was involved in inappropriate sexual conduct with a young lady at a home where I lived,” Morris said in the statement. “It was kissing and petting and not sexual intercourse, but it was wrong. This conduct occurred several times over the next few years.”

The sexual abuse allegedly began when Morris, who was married and worked as a traveling evangelist, was staying at the Clemishire family home in 1982. In 1987, he claimed, the situation “came to light and was confessed and repented of.”

At the request of Clemishire’s family, Morris resigned from office for two years to undergo a “recovery process” before returning in 1989.

Although the Clemishire family forgave Morris, they never supported his return to the church.

“I think sometimes leaders get caught up in thinking it’s our responsibility to protect God when that’s not the case. Our responsibility is to protect the people. God is bigger than all of that,” Clemishire told WFAA.

In 2016, Morris was appointed to Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board. In 2020, Trump appeared at Morris’ church for a panel discussion on race and policing.

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