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Trey Gowdy

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Trey Gowdy
Chair of theHouse Oversight Committee
In office
June 13, 2017 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byJason Chaffetz
Succeeded byElijah Cummings
Chair of theHouse Benghazi Committee
In office
May 8, 2014 – July 8, 2016
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromSouth Carolina's4thdistrict
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byBob Inglis
Succeeded byWilliam Timmons
Personal details
Born
Harold Watson Gowdy III

(1964-08-22)August 22, 1964(age 59)
Greenville, South Carolina,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Terri Dillard
​
(m.1989)​
Children2
EducationBaylor University(BA)
University of South Carolina(JD)
Signature
Websitewww.treygowdy.com
Trey Gowdy's voice
Gowdy opens aHouse Oversight Committeehearing on election cybersecurity
Recorded July 24, 2018

Harold Watson"Trey"Gowdy III(born August 22, 1964) is an American television news presenter, former politician and former federal prosecutor who served as theU.S. representativeforSouth Carolina's 4th congressional districtfrom 2011 to 2019. His district included much of theUpstateregion ofSouth Carolina,includingGreenvilleandSpartanburg.

Before his congressional career, Gowdy served as a federal prosecutor in theDistrict of South Carolinafrom 1994 to 2000 and then as thesolicitor(district attorney) for South Carolina's Seventh Judicial Circuit, comprisingSpartanburgandCherokeecounties from 2000 to 2010. From 2014 to 2016, Gowdy chaired theUnited States House Select Committee on Benghaziwhich was partly responsible for discovering the existence ofHillary Clinton's private email server.[1]His investigative committee spent over two-and-a-half years and $7.8 million investigating the events surrounding the2012 Benghazi attack,ultimately not finding evidence of specific wrongdoing by then–Secretary of State Clinton.[2][3][4]Gowdy pressed for the prosecution ofHillary Clintonduring the 2016 presidential campaign.[5]Beginning in June 2017 he chaired theHouse Oversight Committee.

On January 31, 2018, Gowdy announced that he would not seek re-election in2018and that he intended to pursue a legal career instead of politics.[6][1]He has since rejoined the law firmNelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough,[7]and also joinedFox Newsas a contributor.[8]In early 2021, he served as an interim host ofFox News Primetime,[9]and then was named host ofSunday Night in America with Trey Gowdylater that same year. In May 2023, Gowdy served as a guest host ofFox News Tonightfollowing the firing ofTucker Carlson.[10]

Early life and education[edit]

Gowdy was born on August 22, 1964, inGreenville, South Carolina.He is the son of Novalene (Evans) and Harold Watson "Hal" Gowdy Jr., MD.[11][12]He grew up inSpartanburg,[13]where as a young man he delivered newspapers for the local daily and worked at the community market.[14]Gowdy graduated fromSpartanburg High Schoolin 1982 and earned aBachelor of Artsdegree in history fromBaylor Universityin 1986. While at Baylor he was a member of Kappa Omega Tau. He graduatedJuris Doctorfrom theUniversity of South Carolina School of Lawin 1989.[14]

Legal career[edit]

Gowdy worked asjudicial law clerkfor John P. Gardner on theSouth Carolina Court of Appealsas well as for federal judgeG. Ross Andersonof theUnited States District Court for the District of South Carolina.He then went into private practice atNelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough[7]in Greenville, South Carolina, before being appointed as anassistant United States Attorneyin April 1994. Gowdy received thePostal Inspector's Award for the successful prosecution of J. Mark Allen, one of "America's Most Wanted"suspects.

In February 2000, he left the United States Attorney's Office to run for7th Circuitsolicitor.He defeated incumbent Solicitor Holman Gossett,[15]in the Republican primary, and then ran unopposed in the general election. Gowdy was re-elected in 2004 and 2008, both times unopposed. During his tenure he appeared in four[16]episodes of the television programForensic Files,as well asDateline NBCandSCETV.[17]He prosecuted the set of criminal cases and seven of them weredeath penaltycases.

U.S. House of Representatives[edit]

Elections[edit]

2010[edit]

Main article:2010 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina § District 4

In the summer of 2009, Gowdy announced that he would challenge incumbent Republican U.S. CongressmanBob Inglisin the Republican primary forSouth Carolina's 4th congressional district.

Despite getting a 93% lifetime rating from theAmerican Conservative Union,[18]Inglis had angered theconservative wing of the Republican Partyby taking stances that were perceived to be more moderate than those he had taken when he first represented the district from 1993 to 1999; besides opposing elements in his own party on issues including climate change, he attracted attention as a member of the Judiciary Committee for providing the deciding vote that prevented a measure designed to protect the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance from coming to the House floor. Gowdy was one of several candidates in the 2010 primary who ran well to Inglis' right.[19]Inglis had drawn five Republican challengers, including Gowdy. In the June 2010 primary, Gowdy ranked first with 39% of the vote, short of the 50% majority threshold to win outright and avoid a run-off. Inglis received 27% of the vote. Jim Lee got 14%, State SenatorDavid L. Thomasgot 13%, and formerHistorian of the United States House of RepresentativesChristina Jeffrey was last with 7% of the vote.[20][21]

In therun-off election,Gowdy defeated Inglis 70–30%.[22]The 4th district was consideredso heavily Republicanthat it was widely presumed Gowdy had clinched a seat in Congress with his primary victory.[23]Gowdy defeatedDemocraticnominee Paul Corden 63–29%.[24]

2012[edit]

Main article:2012 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina § District 4

Gowdy ran for re-election to a second term against Democrat Deb Morrow.[25]During redistricting following the 2010 census, one proposed map saw large portions ofSpartanburg County,Gowdy's home county, cut out of the district, while leaving all of Greenville County within the district. Gowdy was initially quoted as being "disappointed" with the version, even though the redrawn 4th would have been as solidly Republican as its predecessor. The final map moved a portion of Greenville County to the 3rd district while leaving almost all of Spartanburg County in the 4th district (except for a sliver that was moved to the 5th district). Gowdy was quoted as being "pleased" with this version, since Greenville and Spartanburg counties remained linked.Roll Callrated his district as "Safe Republican" in 2012.[26]Gowdy easily secured a second term, defeating Morrow 65–34%.[27]

2014[edit]

Main article:2014 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina § District 4

Gowdy ran for re-election again in 2014. His only opponent was Libertarian Curtis E. McLaughlin.[28]He was reelected with 85% of the popular vote.

2016[edit]

In the November 2016 election, Gowdy faced Democrat Chris Fedalei, a 26-year-old attorney. He defeated Fedalei with 67% of the vote to retain his seat.[29]

Tenure[edit]

According toPoliticoduring his tenure in Congress, Gowdy was "considered one of the GOP's most versatile and skilled legal experts, owing to his background as a federal prosecutor".[30]While chairing the House Oversight Committee Gowdy tackled high-profile investigations.[30]Democrats criticized Gowdy for conducting his investigations in a partisan fashion.[30]After Trump became president, Gowdy defended the FBI and Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election to the dismay of Trump supporters.[30]However, in a June 2018 hearing, Gowdy urged Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to wrap up the special counsel investigation.[31]Rosenstein rejected the suggestion, saying the special counsel investigation should finish "appropriately".[31]Democrats criticized Gowdy for not fully pursuing investigations into potential conflicts of interest in the Trump White House or investigating the White House security clearance process.[32]

In August 2011, during the2011 United States debt ceiling crisis,Gowdy opposed SpeakerJohn Boehner'sdebt limitbill, and he voted against the final debt ceiling agreement.[33]He also opposed the 2011 defense authorization bill, citing concerns about the prospect of Americans being detained without trial on national security grounds.[34]In December 2010, he toldCongressional Quarterlythat he would support a measure only if its sponsor could demonstrate that the Constitution gave the government the power to act in a particular realm.[35]

Gowdy worked on the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Gowdy frequently spoke on the floor of the House on issues ranging fromOperation Fast and Furiousto his support for reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

In 2012, he received theDefender of Economic Freedomaward from the fiscally conservative501(c)4organizationClub for Growth.The award is given to members of Congress who have the year's highest ranking, according to the Club for Growth's metrics. Gowdy scored 97 out of 100, and was one of 34 congressmen given the award.[36][37]

An ardent social conservative, Gowdy considers himself "pro-life plus". He not only believes "in the sanctity of life", but argued that "the strategy should be broader than waiting for the Supreme Court to revisitRoe v. Wade."[38]

Gowdy signed theContract from America,which aims to defund, repeal, and replace thePatient Protection and Affordable Care Act,limitUnited States Environmental Protection Agencyregulations, enact a reform of the federal tax code, pass abalanced budget amendment,and endearmarks.[39][40]

In May 2018, Gowdy challenged President Trump's accusation saying that the FBI had spied on his 2016 presidential campaign.[30]As a result Gowdy was attacked by various Trump allies;Politicoreported that Gowdy was "virtually alone, getting little support from his House colleagues".[30][37]In June 2018, SpeakerPaul Ryancame out in support of Gowdy, saying that Gowdy's assessment was "accurate".[41]

At a July 2018 congressional hearing, Gowdy suggested there was impropriety on behalf of FBI agentPeter Strzokand said that Strzok had shown bias in favor of Hillary Clinton and against Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election. He said that this had shaped Strzok's work for the FBI.[42]During the hearing Gowdy repeatedly pressed Strzok about a text message saying Strzok said "we'll stop Trump".[42]Strzok said that a "We'll stop Trump" text message was written late at night and off-the-cuff shortly after controversial remarks were made by Trump towards the family of an American war veteran, and that the message reflected Strzok's belief that Americans would not vote for a candidate who engaged in such "horrible, disgusting behavior".[42]Strzok said the message "was in no way—unequivocally—any suggestion that me, the FBI, would take any action whatsoever to improperly impact the electoral process for any candidate."[42]He added that he knew of information during the 2016 presidential campaign that could have damaged Trump but that he never contemplated leaking it.[42]Strzok said that the investigation into him and the Republicans' related rhetoric was misguided and played into "our enemies' campaign to tear America apart."[42]

Legislation[edit]

On March 4, 2014, Gowdy introduced theENFORCE the Law Act of 2014into the House.[43]The bill would give theUnited States House of Representativesand theUnited States Senatethe ability to sue thePresident of the United Statesin a federal district court to clarify a federal law (that is, seek a declaratory judgment) in the event that the executive branch is not enforcing the law.[44][45]House Republicans argued that the bill was necessary because the Obama Administration refused to enforce the laws.[46]H.R. 4138 passed the House but failed to become law.

Committee assignments[edit]

Caucus memberships[edit]

Presidential politics[edit]

In July 2015, Republican nomineeDonald Trumpnamed Gowdy as a possible nominee forUnited States Attorney Generalin a Trump cabinet.[49]In late December 2015, Gowdy endorsed SenatorMarco Rubiofor president, praising him as a rarity among elected officials for having kept his campaign promises.[50]Gowdy's endorsement strained his relations with Donald Trump's campaign; Trump said that Gowdy had "failed miserably on Benghazi".[51][52]Rubio withdrew from the race in March 2016, after losing his home state ofFloridato Trump. Two months later, on May 20, Gowdy endorsed Trump for president, admitting that while he was a "Rubio guy" he would support the presumptive Republican nominee.[53]After the May 2017dismissal of FBI Director Comey,Gowdy was being considered for his replacement. However, the veteran representative told Attorney GeneralSessionsthat he wanted to remain in his congressional seat.[54]

On December 1, 2017, the Congressional Office of Compliance said that while Gowdy was acting as chairman of the House Select Committee on Benghazi, a former congressional aide of his reached a settlement with Congress and the House Employment Counsel. The aide had alleged he was fired in part because he was not willing to focus his investigative work on Hillary Clinton (a charge which was later dropped) and because he was absent from the position while fulfilling an Air Force Reserve assignment. His attorney stated: "I can confirm that my client is one person who brought a veterans status discrimination and retaliation suit against Congress and that the case settled on terms that were satisfactory to my client."The Washington Postreported that Gowdy was responsible for use of taxpayer funds to pay the claim against the government.[55]

Personal life[edit]

Gowdy is married to Terri (born Terri Dillard)[56]Gowdy, a former Miss Spartanburg and 2nd runner up forMiss South Carolina.[57]The couple have two children, Watson and Abigail. As of January 2019, Terri Dillard Gowdy was a first-grade teacher in theSpartanburg School District.[7]

Electoral history[edit]

South Carolina's 4th congressional district primary, 2010[58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Trey Gowdy 34,103 39.22
Republican Bob Inglis(incumbent) 23,877 27.46
Republican Jim Lee 11,854 13.63
Republican David L. Thomas 11,073 12.74
Republican Christina Fawcett Jeffrey 6,041 6.95
Total votes 86,948 100.00
South Carolina's 4th congressional district primary runoff, 2010[59]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Trey Gowdy 51,541 70.18
Republican Bob Inglis(incumbent) 21,898 29.82
Total votes 73,439 100.00
South Carolina's 4th congressional district election, 2010[60]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Trey Gowdy 137,586 63.45
Democratic Paul Corden 62,438 28.79
Constitution Dave Edwards 11,059 5.10
Libertarian Rick Mahler 3,010 1.39
Green Faye Walters 2,564 1.18
Write-ins 181 0.08
Total votes 216,838 100.00
Republicanhold
South Carolina 4th congressional district election, 2012[61][62]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Trey Gowdy (Incumbent) 173,201 64.90
Democratic Deb Morrow 89,964 33.71
Green Jeff Sumerel 3,390 1.27
Write-In Candidates 329 0.12
Total votes 266,884 100.00
South Carolina 4th congressional district election, 2014[63]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Trey Gowdy (Incumbent) 126,452 84.84
Libertarian Curtis E. McLaughlin Jr. 21,969 14.74
Write-Ins 628 0.42
Total votes 149,049 100.00
Republicanhold
South Carolina 4th congressional district election, 2016[64]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Trey Gowdy (Incumbent) 198,648 67.19
Democratic Chris Fedalei 91,676 31.01
Constitution Michael Chandler 5,103 1.73
Write-Ins 243 0.08
Total votes 295,670 100.00
Republicanhold

References[edit]

  1. ^abDumain, Emma (January 31, 2018)."Gowdy, key player in Clinton, Trump campaign probes, won't seek another term".McClatchy DC website.RetrievedJanuary 31,2018.
  2. ^"The Endless Trial of Trey Gowdy's Benghazi Committee".Rolling Stone.Retrieved2017-05-12.
  3. ^"Clinton team used special program to scrub server, Gowdy says".Fox News. 2016-08-26.Retrieved2017-05-13.
  4. ^Demirjian, Karoun (2016-06-28)."Trey Gowdy defends two-year Benghazi probe that was riddled with partisan conflict".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Retrieved2018-06-28.
  5. ^"Gowdy: Clinton should be prosecuted".thestate.Retrieved2017-05-13.
  6. ^"Trey Gowdy".www.facebook.com.Retrieved2018-01-31.
  7. ^abcConnor, Eric.Trey Gowdy swears off politics as he joins power firm Nelson Mullins in Greenville,Greenville News,January 3, 2019.
  8. ^"Trey Gowdy joins Fox News as a contributor".January 30, 2019.
  9. ^"Former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy to host new Fox News Primetime show week of Feb. 1".
  10. ^Johnson, Julia (2023-05-19)."Trey Gowdy will host Tucker Carlson's former 8 pm slot on Fox News this week".Washington Examiner.Retrieved2023-05-20.
  11. ^"Circuit Solicitor: Trey Gowdy Bio".Spartanburgcounty.org. Archived fromthe originalon March 14, 2012.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  12. ^"Harold Watson" Trey "Gowdy III".Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  13. ^McCutcheon, Michael; Barone, Chuck (2013).2014 Almanac of American Politics.University of Chicago Press.
  14. ^ab"Herald-Journal - Google News Archive Search".news.google.com.
  15. ^Spencer, Janet S. (April 29, 2000)."Gowdy spins web campaign".Herald-Journal.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  16. ^"Trey Gowdy".IMDb.RetrievedJanuary 31,2018.
  17. ^"Meet Trey".Trey Gowdy. Archived fromthe originalon July 5, 2009.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  18. ^ACU Ratings of Congress: 111th Congress, Second Session (40th Edition).American Conservative Union, 2010. p. 32.PDF available online;retrieved January 14, 2017.
  19. ^Kraushaar, Josh (April 7, 2009)."Inglis faces fight from the right".Politico.com.RetrievedApril 14,2009.
  20. ^"SC District 4 – R Primary Race".Our Campaigns. June 8, 2010.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  21. ^McArdle, John.Inglis Forced Into Runoff.Archived2010-06-09 at theWayback MachineCongressional Quarterly.June 8, 2010.
  22. ^"SC District 4 – R Runoff Race".Our Campaigns. June 22, 2010.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  23. ^McArdle, John.Gowdy Crushes Inglis in S.C. RunoffArchivedJune 28, 2010, at theWayback Machine,CQ Politics,June 22, 2010.
  24. ^"SC District 4 Race".Our Campaigns. November 2, 2010.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  25. ^"Deb Morrow Seeks Democratic Nod for Congress – Taylors-Wade Hampton".January 31, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon January 31, 2013.
  26. ^Miller, Joshua (August 2, 2011)."Race Ratings: GOP Strengthens Grip on South Carolina".Roll Call.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  27. ^"2014 Election Results Senate: Live Map by State, Midterm Midterm Races Races".Politico.RetrievedAugust 8,2014.
  28. ^Shain, Andrew (March 26, 2014)."Election 2014 (updated): Who's filed for statewide, State House, Congressional offices".The State.Archived fromthe originalon March 27, 2014.RetrievedOctober 22,2014.
  29. ^Lavender, Chris (March 4, 2016)."Spartanburg native Chris Fedalei to challenge Gowdy".Archived fromthe originalon August 14, 2016.RetrievedJuly 24,2016.
  30. ^abcdef"Trump allies gang up on Gowdy".POLITICO.Retrieved2018-06-02.
  31. ^abBreuninger, Kevin (2018-06-28)."Rod Rosenstein rejects call to 'finish' Russia investigation, saying it should end 'appropriately'".CNBC.Retrieved2018-06-28.
  32. ^Demirjian, Karoun (2018-05-31)."Trey Gowdy: A prosecutor and partisan at the heart of the GOP's Russia probe".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Retrieved2018-06-02.
  33. ^Sherman, Jake (May 13, 2012)."Right wants more from John Boehner".Politico.RetrievedJune 2,2012.
  34. ^Brady, Jessica (December 29, 2011)."Detainee Provisions Still Cause for Concern".Roll Call.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  35. ^Congressional Quarterly Guide to the New Congress,2010ArchivedJuly 8, 2011, at theWayback Machine
  36. ^Drury, Shawn (March 1, 2012)."Rep. Trey Gowdy Awarded by Club for Growth".Mauldin Patch.RetrievedMay 9,2012.
  37. ^ab"Rep. Trey Gowdy Awarded by Club for Growth".Mauldin, SC Patch.2012-03-01.Retrieved2020-01-03.
  38. ^"Issues".Gowdy For Congress. Archived fromthe originalon May 22, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 14,2017.
  39. ^"Contract From America".Contract From America.RetrievedMay 29,2012.
  40. ^"Project Vote Smart".Project Vote Smart. Archived fromthe originalon May 28, 2012.RetrievedMay 29,2012.
  41. ^"Speaker Ryan Dismisses Trump's Charges of a Spy in His Campaign".The New York Times.2018-06-06.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2018-06-06.
  42. ^abcdef"FBI agent defiantly rejects bias charges at chaotic hearing".AP News.Retrieved2018-07-12.
  43. ^"H.R. 4138 – Summary".United States Congress.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  44. ^"H.R. 4138 – CBO".Congressional Budget Office. 10 March 2014.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  45. ^Kiefer, Francine (March 12, 2014)."Can House Republicans make Obama enforce laws?".Christian Science Monitor.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
  46. ^"House backs bill to sue president over laws".The Washington Post.Associated Press. March 12, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon December 16, 2018.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
  47. ^ "HPSCI Majority Members | U.S. House of Representatives".intelligence.house.gov.Retrieved2018-11-06.
  48. ^"Member List".Republican Study Committee. Archived fromthe originalon 1 January 2019.Retrieved21 December2017.
  49. ^Weiss, Rusty (July 29, 2015)."Trump Just Announced Possible Cabinet Members That Will Make Liberals Cringe".Headline Politics.RetrievedJuly 27,2016.
  50. ^Collins, Eliza (December 29, 2015)."Trey Gowdy endorses Marco Rubio".Politico.
  51. ^"Scorned Trump Team Turns On Man They Once Loved".The Daily Beast. December 28, 2015.
  52. ^"Marco Rubio is scoring some big endorsements. But do they matter?".MSNBC. December 30, 2015.
  53. ^"Gowdy endorses Trump".thehill.com. May 20, 2016.
  54. ^Eliza Collins, 15 May 2017:Rep. Trey Gowdy, a former FBI contender, keeps making Republican short lists
  55. ^Viebeck, Elise; Lee, Michelle Ye Hee (2017-12-01)."Gowdy, Benghazi panel settled wrongful firing suit with $150,000 in public funds".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Retrieved2017-12-02.
  56. ^"Biography".December 11, 2012.
  57. ^"Congressional Profile: Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) - Heritage Action for America".heritageaction.com.
  58. ^SC District 4 - R Primary.Our Campaigns.
  59. ^SC District 4 - R Runoff.Our Campaigns.
  60. ^"Election Results: 2012 General Election: South Carolina State Election Commission".Scvotes.org. Archived fromthe originalon October 20, 2014.RetrievedOctober 20,2014.
  61. ^"Election Statistics – US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives".Karen Haas, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.RetrievedOctober 21,2014.
  62. ^The votes for the Democratic candidate includes votes cast for the candidate who also ran under theWorking Families Partyticket
  63. ^"South Carolina Election Commission Official Results".West Virginia Secretary of State. November 4, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 8,2015.
  64. ^"South Carolina State Election Commission".Retrieved19 January2017.

External links[edit]

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromSouth Carolina's 4th congressional district
2011–2019 		Succeeded by
New office Chair of theHouse Benghazi Committee
2014–2016 		Position eliminated
Preceded by Chair of theHouse Oversight Committee
2017–2019 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence(ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trey_Gowdy&oldid=1235158477"