WASHINGTON — Michael Gates, Huntington Seaside’s city attorney for the final decade and tireless antagonist of the state’s liberal politics, has joined the U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights division, he stated in an announcement 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, combat to revive legislation and order all through the nation, and combat to revive religion within the Nation’s justice system,” Gates stated in an announcement asserting his departure and his new place as a deputy assistant attorney common.
Gates, 49, joins the Justice Department below U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, who was confirmed by the Senate final week. Bondi, an in depth ally of Trump, promised to convey reforms to the division, which investigated the president throughout the Biden administration. She has additionally indicated that securing election techniques and combating sanctuary cities could be a precedence.
“The voters put Trump in workplace to revive numerous 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 task 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, continuously selecting authorized battles with the state’s Democratic leaders.
Most not too long ago, the city sued California over the state’s sanctuary legislation, 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 city, which grants localities energy to trump state legal guidelines when coping with municipal affairs. Gates argued in a case combating California’s housing necessities that as a constitution city, 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 an announcement. “So many different cities in California now look to Huntington Seaside for management. As I’ve advised so many in recent times, Huntington Seaside actually is the ‘land of the free and residential of the courageous’ right here in California.”
On the forefront of frequent fights in opposition to California, Gates and Huntington Seaside rapidly turned authorized foils for leaders corresponding to Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta.
The state sued Huntington Seaside over the city’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 the state appealed final month and Newsom signed SB 1174 to counter the measure, prohibiting election officers from requiring ID.
“I’m trying ahead to rolling up my sleeves and diving in and serving to out,” he stated. “After we convey — at the very least in our division — order again, issues will relax.”
Gates, a lifelong Republican working in a largely conservative city, graduated from Pepperdine College and Chapman College’s legislation college. He grew up in Huntington Seaside, the place he wrestled and performed soccer in highschool.
Gates was the topic of a lawsuit by former staff who alleged that he discriminated in opposition to older and disabled attorneys. The case was settled, and one of many staff, Scott Area, misplaced an election to Gates in 2022.
In his resignation announcement, Gates really helpful that Huntington Seaside exchange him with Chief Asst. City Atty. Mike Vigliotta.
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