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Was Huntington Beach's Michael Gates fired from the Trump administration or did he resign?
File photo: Then-Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates addresses a crowd in Huntington Beach.
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Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
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Los Angeles Times
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The former Huntington Beach city attorney is disputing allegations that he was fired for cause by the Trump administration after less than a year.
Why it matters
Michael Gates, a popular but controversial figure in Huntington Beach politics, told LAist on Friday he had made it known that he planned to resign prior to a supervisor telling him he no longer had a job.
Gates says he is going back to a job with the beach city.
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How we got here
The Orange County Register published a story Friday, including a federal employment document, showing Gates was officially fired for cause. The document is undated and does not specify a reason.
The Department of Justice has not responded to LAist's records request for the documents.
The Register reported that a Department of Justice source said that Gates repeatedly referred to women colleagues by derogatory and demeaning names and had complained about the department employing a pregnant woman.
Gates said the allegations are a "100% fabrication" and that he is considering legal action for defamation.
Gates told LAist that the firing was an effort to reverse the narrative about a “dysfunctional” department.
“It was a very unprofessional environment,” Gates told LAist, adding that morale was low in the Civil Rights Division where he worked. “In terms of leadership, it was very dysfunctional,” he said.
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This is a developing story. We'll have more reporting throughout the day.
HOW TO KEEP TABS ON HUNTINGTON BEACH
- Huntington Beach holds City Council meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 2000 Main St.
- You can also watch City Council meetings remotely on HBTV via Channel 3 or online , or via the city’s website . (You can also find videos of previous council meetings there.)
- The public comment period happens toward the beginning of meetings.
- The city generally posts agendas for City Council meetings on the previous Friday. You can find the agenda on the city’s calendar or sign up there to have agendas sent to your inbox.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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