Trey Gowdy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Trey Gowdy
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Chair of the House Oversight Committee | |
| In office June 13, 2017 – January 3, 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | Jason Chaffetz |
| Succeeded by | Elijah Cummings |
| Chair of the House Benghazi Committee | |
| In office May 8, 2014 – July 8, 2016 |
|
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th district |
|
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | Bob Inglis |
| Succeeded by | William Timmons |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Harold Watson Gowdy III
August 22, 1964 Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Terri Dillard
(m. 1989) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Baylor University (BA) University of South Carolina (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Harold Watson "Trey" Gowdy III (born August 22, 1964) is an American television news host. He used to be a politician and a federal prosecutor. He served as a U.S. representative for South Carolina from 2011 to 2019. His district included parts of Upstate South Carolina, like Greenville and Spartanburg.
Before working in Congress, Gowdy was a federal prosecutor from 1994 to 2000. He then became a solicitor (like a district attorney) for South Carolina's Seventh Judicial Circuit from 2000 to 2010. From 2014 to 2016, he led the United States House Select Committee on Benghazi. This committee investigated events related to the 2012 Benghazi attack. It also helped discover that Hillary Clinton had a private email server. The committee spent over two and a half years investigating. It did not find evidence of specific wrongdoing by then-Secretary of State Clinton.
In June 2017, he became the chairman of the House Oversight Committee. On January 31, 2018, Gowdy announced he would not run for re-election. He decided to go back to a legal career instead of politics. He joined the law firm Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. He also became a contributor for Fox News. In 2021, he hosted Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Trey Gowdy was born on August 22, 1964, in Greenville, South Carolina. He grew up in Spartanburg. As a young person, he delivered newspapers and worked at a community market.
He graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1982. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Baylor University in 1986. He then earned a law degree (Juris Doctor) from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1989.
Legal Career Highlights
After law school, Gowdy worked as a judicial law clerk for two judges. He then worked in private law practice. In 1994, he became an assistant United States Attorney. He received an award for successfully prosecuting a suspect from "America's Most Wanted".
In 2000, he became the solicitor for the 7th Circuit in South Carolina. He won this position in an election and was re-elected twice without opposition. During his time as solicitor, he appeared on TV shows like Forensic Files and Dateline NBC. He handled many criminal cases, including some serious ones.
U.S. House of Representatives
Trey Gowdy served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019.
Becoming a Representative
2010 Election Campaign
In 2009, Gowdy decided to run against the current Republican Congressman, Bob Inglis. Inglis had been seen as more moderate by some conservative voters. Gowdy was one of several candidates who ran as a more conservative choice.
In the June 2010 primary election, Gowdy received 39% of the votes. This was the most votes, but not enough to win outright. He then went into a run-off election against Inglis. Gowdy won the run-off with 70% of the votes. Because his district was very Republican, this primary win meant he was very likely to win the main election. He then defeated the Democratic candidate, Paul Corden, with 63% of the vote.
Later Elections
- 2012: Gowdy ran for re-election and won a second term. He defeated Democrat Deb Morrow with 65% of the votes.
- 2014: He ran again and won with 85% of the popular vote against a Libertarian opponent.
- 2016: In his final election, Gowdy defeated Democrat Chris Fedalei with 67% of the vote.
Time in Congress
During his time in Congress, Trey Gowdy was known for his legal skills. He had a background as a federal prosecutor. He led important investigations while chairing the House Oversight Committee.
In August 2011, during a debate about the national debt, Gowdy voted against a debt ceiling agreement. He also opposed a defense bill because of concerns about people being held without trial. He often said he would only support laws if the U.S. Constitution clearly gave the government the power to act.
Gowdy worked on several important committees:
- The Committee on the Judiciary
- The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- The Committee on Education and the Workforce
He often spoke in the House of Representatives about various issues. In 2012, he received an award called the Defender of Economic Freedom. This award is given to members of Congress who support policies that promote economic growth.
Gowdy is a social conservative. He believes in the "sanctity of life." He also supported the "Contract from America." This plan aimed to change healthcare laws, limit environmental regulations, reform taxes, and balance the budget.
In May 2018, Gowdy disagreed with President Trump's claim that the FBI had spied on his 2016 presidential campaign. He stated that his assessment was "accurate."
Legislation and Committees
Key Legislation
On March 4, 2014, Gowdy introduced the ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014. This bill would have allowed the House and Senate to sue the President if they believed the executive branch was not enforcing a law. The House passed this bill, but it did not become law.
Committee Roles
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Subcommittee on Constitution and Civil Justice
- Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations (Chairman)
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Health Care, Benefits and Administrative Rules
- Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Affairs
- Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Presidential Politics
In July 2015, Donald Trump mentioned Gowdy as a possible choice for United States Attorney General. In late 2015, Gowdy supported Senator Marco Rubio for president. He praised Rubio for keeping his campaign promises.
After Rubio left the race, Gowdy supported Donald Trump for president in May 2016. In May 2017, after the FBI Director was replaced, Gowdy was considered for the position. However, he told the Attorney General that he wanted to stay in his congressional seat.
Personal Life
Trey Gowdy is married to Terri (née Dillard). She was a former Miss Spartanburg. They have two children, Watson and Abigail. As of January 2019, Terri Gowdy is a first-grade teacher in the Spartanburg School District.
Images for kids
-
Trey Gowdy's signature
