Trump’s Former Spiritual Adviser Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Crimes
The founder and former senior pastor of Gateway Church in Texas who served on President Donald Trump’s Evangelical Advisory Board in 2016, plead guilty yesterday to five felony counts of child sexual abuse.
In 2020, during an event in Texas, Trump mentioned the man along with another pastor, calling them “great people.” Trump added, “Great people with a great reputation. I have to say that. Great reputation. And Gateway Church — the team has been incredible in hosting us.”
This case illustrates a growing reality; more and more people, even those celebrated in positions of power, influence, and trust, are becoming registered sex offenders. When someone held up by a president as a “great guy” is also a registrant, it highlights how complicated, nuanced, and widespread the issue truly is.
President Trump has already had other ties to registrants — Jeffrey Epstein, Lawrence Taylor (recently added to a federal fitness advisory board despite his conviction), and now a former spiritual advisor. Each one was publicly praised by the president as a respected figure.
The takeaway is that the registry includes people from every corner of society — athletes, business leaders, pastors, neighbors. The more the registry grows to encompass those from the highest levels of influence all the way down to ordinary citizens, the clearer it becomes that the world of “registrants” is shrinking in separation from the broader population.
In truth, it reflects the same reality we all live in – we are all imperfect people. Even someone capable of harm can also be seen as “great” by those who know them.
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Yes, we have to see his Judgment and Sentence (JAS) to find out if he must register. If he doesn’t, it is definitely a travesty of justice.
Makes me feel better that it’s not just people in the trailer park who are being captured.
This pastor will likely get a relative slap on the wrist along with Diddy, while the average citizen will lave to live like those of us on the registry.
Combs got four years and five more for probation. I’m not sure if he has to register.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Combs was sentenced to supervised release and not probation. He was sentenced to only 50 months incarceration, which was below his sentencing guideline range of 5 to 7 years. Five years is the minimum supervised release for a conviction under 18 U.S.C. §2421 with lifetime supervision the maximum. See 18 U.S.C. §3583(k). He was given a very light federal sentence, but with a sex offense does not qualify for a minimum security prison. Registration is not imposed at sentencing, but depends on the count of conviction and individual state laws.
That is actually pretty helpful. I wondered if Combs would be on the registry. The pastor got off light for what he did despite the time between the act and adjudication. He gets to register for life afterwards I believe.
No he does not have to register
Politicians love to say it’s worth it “if it saves just one child.” Why, then, aren’t those who are employed in positions of trust with direct unsupervised access to children not given pre-employment polygraph screenings? It is the official position of all 50 states that polygraph testing helps prevent sexual offenses. Why, then, are they only used on those least likely to offend? Mandatory pre-employment polygraph testing would prevent many of these types of cases involving sexual abuse of children by those who have unsupervised access to them in a position of trust. That would save far more than “just one child.”
A RM:
No offense intended, but beyond the first sentence, your post could not be more wrong.
No state has an “official” position that polygraphs prevent sexual offenses. Many don’t allow them to be admitted into any court proceedings, and those that do only allow it under very specific circumstances (agreement of both parties being the most common). No state *requires* polygraphs be used for pre-employment screening, criminal investigations, or as a parole/probation terms – they merely *allow* them. It’s a handy way of circumventing constitutional protections against interrogations.
Most state appellate and federal courts have ruled correctly that polygraphs are not “lie detectors” as advertised, but solely the opinion of the administrator, regardless of the basis for that opinion (which, most of the time, are pre-determined and the “exam” is conducted to ensure that conclusion). Some states forbid polygraphs as a pre-employment condition for all but government agencies. Government agencies that use them do so because the approving official has a friend or business partner that is a provider. Case in point – many LE agencies require pre-employment polygraphs, and those that are hired clearly “passed.” (Yet, cops and their administrative support personnel still get accused and arrested for sex crimes, including crimes against children).
Private day cares, churches, etc. generally don’t use them for economic purposes – providers charge anywhere from 2 – 5 times as much as they do for registrants under supervision. But even if they did, how would it prevent future abuse? In every case I’ve seen of a sexual assault on a child at a church, school, or day care, by a staff member, there is never anything in the background of the accused that would suggest the person is likely to assault someone. Anyone who thinks such an “exam” would include a question like “Are you seeking this position to facilitate sex with children?” and the magic machine would flash lights and blare horns if a would-be predator said “No” is simply being extremely foolish.
Accordingly, there’s absolutely no basis for the assertion that pre-employment polygraphs for positions of trust would prevent sex crimes against children.
If I could give your post @Dustin ten thumbs up, I would. Best write up I have seen in a long time on polygraphs. The Feds use them as scare tactics at best when working to clear someone for a new USG position. Innocent can fail them and guilty can pass them. Junk sci at best with a lot of backing.
Again, another person in a position of trust (regardless of how high they are in society and their influence) who offends while most of those who are already PFRs don’t (~96-97%).
In reality, if this person did not have a connection with the WH as they do, I doubt this op-ed would be written and this noted as it is beyond the fact noted in the sentence above.
Registries are being used to kill the Constitution. People forced onto registries lose their constitutional rights. This is a very broad sweeping attack on the Constitution because America is in “the great reset” and they are going to level it to the status of a third world country. That’s the plan anyway. Agenda 2030. Find it and read it. Much of it has already been done.
I agree with you on one point, this country is heading for some serious trouble ahead. I would encourage all of us to prepare. I have about 1.5 years of food stored in mylar bags(rice/beans) plus some freeze dried stuff, MREs etc. Plus other stuff, water filtration etc. There may come a time when you need it and if there is some serious problems in this country, do you think they are going to let us in line for assistance. You can seal up rice and beans in these bags they are good for 25 years, they have oxygen absorbers. Or start stocking your pantry and buy and extra can and build it up. Just something to think about.