In a shocking revelation, a former member of Gateway Church has come forward with allegations of sexual assault against pastor Robert Morris. The victim, identified as Cindy Clemishire, claims that her abuse began when she was just 12 years old, lasting for nearly five years.

According to a transcript of a phone call obtained by NBC News, Morris asked Clemishire to "put a price on it" when she approached him seeking compensation for her trauma. After Clemishire responded with a figure of two million dollars, Morris abruptly ended the call. The conversation, which took place in September 2005, came after a series of emails where Clemishire asked for restitution.

However, these allegations did not lead to Morris's downfall at the time. It was only recently, nearly two decades later, that Clemishire publicly disclosed her abuse on a church watchdog site. She described how the abuse began in 1982 when Morris was 21 years old and staying at her family's Texas home. He allegedly groped her and engaged in similar encounters, warning her to keep silent about the abuse.

Following Clemishire's disclosure, Morris confessed to engaging in "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" during his early twenties. He resigned from his position at Gateway Church, a megachurch attracting around 100,000 weekly attendees, which he had founded in 2000.

Although Morris was never criminally charged, he admitted to confessing his actions to church elders and seeking forgiveness. The allegations came to light in March 1987, leading to some form of internal resolution within the church.

It was also revealed that Morris had made attempts to pay off Clemishire in 2005 through a series of emails. In one message, she expressed her desire for restitution after enduring years of pain and damage caused by Morris. The phone call transcript indicated that Clemishire was not seeking money for her silence but rather wanted to confront Morris about the lasting impact of his actions.

A former member of Gateway Church's IT department provided the transcript to NBC News, having come across it while transferring files from Morris's computer over a decade ago. The authenticity of the transcript has yet to be confirmed, and the church has engaged outside counsel to conduct an independent inquiry into the matter.

The allegations against Morris highlight the seriousness of abuse in any form and the importance of addressing such behavior within religious organizations. As the investigation progresses, revelations surrounding Morris's tenure as a spiritual adviser to former President Donald Trump may also come to light. The outcome of the inquiry will determine the appropriate course of action against Morris if the allegations are substantiated.