Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates announced his departure Monday after more than a decade as lead counsel. Gates has been hired by the U.S. Justice Department under Trump appointee Pam Bondi, who was confirmed as Attorney General last week. He’ll work in the DOJ’s civil rights division.
“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 in a statement.
Gates is one of the few elected city attorneys in the State of California. The political firebrand has welcomed legal fights with the state over housing, sanctuary policies, voter ID, and more.
Gates has also experienced his fair share of controversies and legal setbacks. A former deputy city attorney filed an age discrimination suit against him and the city in 2019. The city settled that suit for $2.9 million. The city also lost a court case over the Pacific Airshow debacle. Just last month, a judge ordered Huntington Beach to pay more than $180,000 in attorney’s fees, citing Gates’ failure to release the full Pacific Airshow settlement when it was reached.
None of that has affected Gates’ popularity. He was handily re-elected to another term in 2022.
Surf City is still embroiled in multiple legal battles, and will have to find new representation to see those cases through. Gates said he favors Chief Assistant City Attorney Mike Vigliotta for the job.
“The City’s adversaries, including the State currently in our lawsuits should know, Huntington Beach will continue to fight aggressively, and the City will ultimately prevail,” Gates said. “The law is on the City’s side and while it may take time in the courts, I have every faith that the City will ultimately be vindicated by the law.”