Michael Gates, the elected Huntington Beach City Attorney who has been battling for voter ID requirements and against the state sanctuary state law, announced he is joining the U.S. Department of Justice as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division.
“I will be taking a top position at the United States Department of Justice as Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division,” Gates said in a prepared statement.
“I am profoundly humbled and honored for this opportunity to serve the American people at a time like this – to advance President Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda, fight to restore law and order throughout the country, and fight to restore faith in the Nation’s justice system,” Gates said.
As the name denotes, the Civil Rights Division is charged with enforcing the nation’s federal civil rights laws. In his new position, Gates will be working with another prominent California conservative lawyer, Harmeet Dhillion. In December, President Trump nominated Dhillon to run the Civil Rights Division.
The Huntington Beach City Council will appoint a replacement to fill the vacancy. Gates is recommending they appoint Chief Assistant City Attorney Mike Vigliotta, calling him “perfect” to “carry the City’s legal battles forward, including continuing with the City’s Voter ID law, the high-density housing fights, and the City’s important legal battle over the State’s Sanctuary Law.”
“We are a Nation of laws, and we must, at all levels of government, fight every day to restore law and order. As Huntington Beach will continue that fight in the years to come, so will I in my work for the Trump Administration at the U.S. Department of Justice. It has been an honor, Huntington Beach, and we will win this country back together!” said Gates.
“Thank you for your years of support and the countless generous expressions of encouragement and gratitude. My family and I are exceedingly grateful. God Bless Huntington Beach,” Gates said.
