Michael Gates, Huntington Seaside’s metropolis lawyer for the final decade and tireless antagonist of the state’s liberal politics, has joined the U.S. Division of Justice’s civil rights division, he stated in a press release Monday.
“I’m profoundly humbled and honored for this chance to serve the American folks at a time like this — to advance President Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda, battle to revive regulation and order all through the nation, and battle to revive religion within the Nation’s justice system,” Gates stated in a press release asserting his departure and his new place as a deputy assistant lawyer basic.
Gates, 49, joins the Justice Division beneath U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, who was by the Senate final week. Bondi, a detailed ally of Trump, promised to deliver reforms to the division, which investigated the president throughout the Biden administration. She has additionally indicated that securing election techniques and preventing sanctuary cities can be a precedence.
“The voters put Trump in workplace to revive a number of what has been broken throughout the nation,” Gates stated in an interview Monday, including that he has been an “unapologetic supporter” of the president since 2015. “I’m glad to take a job as being part of that restoration — that we have to put America again to the place it was … a nation of legal guidelines.”
Gates gained consideration in Orange County as an aggressive litigator on behalf of Huntington Seaside, ceaselessly choosing authorized battles with the state’s Democratic leaders.
Most just lately, the town sued California over , which the primary Trump administration additionally fought, alleging that it’s unconstitutional.
A few of Gates’ lawsuits rested on Huntington Seaside’s standing as a constitution metropolis, which to trump state legal guidelines when coping with municipal affairs. Gates argued preventing California’s housing necessities that as a constitution metropolis, Huntington Seaside may escape state legal guidelines it deemed overreaching.
“I consider that Huntington Seaside will proceed to play a pivotal position in restoring the State of California,” Gates stated in a press release. “So many different cities in California now look to Huntington Seaside for management. As I’ve instructed so many lately, Huntington Seaside actually is the ‘land of the free and residential of the courageous’ right here in California.”
On the forefront of frequent fights towards California, Gates and Huntington Seaside rapidly turned authorized foils for leaders resembling Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta.
The state sued Huntington Seaside over the town’s voter-backed Measure A, which permits officers to ask voters for ID earlier than they will forged ballots. The courts dismissed the case, however final month and Newsom signed to counter the measure, prohibiting election officers from requiring ID.
“I’m wanting ahead to rolling up my sleeves and diving in and serving to out,” he stated. “Once we deliver — not less than in our division — order again, issues will settle down.”
Gates, a lifelong Republican working in a largely conservative metropolis, graduated from Pepperdine College and Chapman College’s regulation faculty. He grew up in Huntington Seaside, the place he wrestled and performed soccer in highschool.
Gates was the by former staff who alleged that he discriminated towards older and disabled attorneys. The case was settled, and one of many staff, Scott Subject, misplaced an election to Gates in 2022.
In his resignation announcement, Gates really useful that Huntington Seaside exchange him with Chief Asst. Metropolis Atty. Mike Vigliotta.
