Former Huntington Beach city attorney Michael Gates on Friday disputed claims he was fired from his U.S. Department of Justice job amid allegations that he created a hostile work environment.
Gates announced last weekend on social media he was resigning from his job as a deputy assistant U.S. attorney general in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, where he had spent about 10 months. He said in an interview with the Daily Pilot Monday he missed his family, had decided to stay at home amid the government shutdown and would return to Huntington Beach City Hall as an chief assistant city attorney effective Nov. 24.
But an SF-52 employment document obtained by the Orange County Register indicates Gates was terminated from the federal job “for cause.” The form states the termination was authorized by Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general who oversees the Civil Rights Division.
A Register article published Friday additionally cites an unnamed source at the agency who stated Gates created a hostile work environment in Washington, D.C., and was derogatory toward women.
Gates categorically denied those claims during an interview Friday, insisting that he resigned, rather than being terminated. He said he had not seen the SR-52 form before Friday. When he did, he noted it was unsigned and undated.
“I think that should draw the scrutiny of any casual reader,” the former city attorney said. “I believe the form was leaked by somebody high up in the DOJ who was really upset that...
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