"Harold Watson "Trey" Gowdy III is a former American politician and federal prosecutor. He served as a U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district from 2011 to 2019. His district encompassed a large portion of the Upstate region, including Greenville and Spartanburg. Currently, he works as a television news presenter."
August 22, 1964: Birth of Trey Gowdy
On August 22, 1964, Harold Watson "Trey" Gowdy III was born in Greenville, South Carolina.
1982: Graduation from Spartanburg High School
Trey Gowdy graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1982.
1986: Graduation from Baylor University
Trey Gowdy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Baylor University in 1986.
1989: Graduation from University of South Carolina School of Law
Trey Gowdy obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1989.
1993: Start of Bob Inglis' First Term in Congress
Bob Inglis, whom Trey Gowdy challenged in the 2010 Republican primary, began his first term representing South Carolina's 4th congressional district in 1993.
April 1994: Appointment as Assistant United States Attorney and Receipt of Postal Inspector's Award
Trey Gowdy's career took a significant step forward in April 1994 when he was appointed as an assistant United States Attorney. He also received the Postal Inspector's Award for his successful prosecution of J. Mark Allen, a highly sought-after fugitive on "America's Most Wanted."
1994: Start of Career as Federal Prosecutor
Trey Gowdy began his career as a federal prosecutor in the District of South Carolina in 1994.
1999: End of Bob Inglis' First Tenure in Congress
Bob Inglis concluded his initial period representing South Carolina's 4th congressional district in 1999.
February 2000: Departure from U.S. Attorney's Office and Election as 7th Circuit Solicitor
Trey Gowdy left the United States Attorney's Office in February 2000 to pursue the position of 7th Circuit solicitor. He emerged victorious in the Republican primary against incumbent Solicitor Holman Gossett and ran unopposed in the general election.
2000: Transition to Solicitor
Trey Gowdy transitioned from his role as a federal prosecutor to become the solicitor (district attorney) for South Carolina's Seventh Judicial Circuit in 2000.
2004: Re-election as 7th Circuit Solicitor
Trey Gowdy was re-elected as the 7th Circuit solicitor in 2004, facing no opposition in the election.
2008: Second Re-election as 7th Circuit Solicitor
Trey Gowdy secured his position as the 7th Circuit solicitor for a third term in 2008, again running unopposed.
2009: Announcement of Candidacy for U.S. Congress
Trey Gowdy announced his intention to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Congressman Bob Inglis in the Republican primary for South Carolina's 4th congressional district in the summer of 2009.
June 2010: Republican Primary for U.S. Congress
The Republican primary for South Carolina's 4th congressional district took place in June 2010. Trey Gowdy secured the top position with 39% of the vote, falling short of the 50% majority required to avoid a runoff election. Inglis trailed with 27% of the vote.
December 2010: Stance on Constitutional Limits of Government Power
In December 2010, Trey Gowdy articulated his position on the limits of government power, stating that he would only support a measure if its proponent could demonstrate that the Constitution granted the government the authority to act in that specific area.
2010: Redistricting Following the Census
Following the 2010 census, redistricting efforts were undertaken, resulting in proposed changes to South Carolina's congressional districts.
2010: End of Tenure as Solicitor
Trey Gowdy's time as the solicitor for South Carolina's Seventh Judicial Circuit came to an end in 2010.
August 2011: Opposition to Debt Ceiling Bill
During the 2011 United States debt ceiling crisis, Trey Gowdy expressed his opposition to Speaker John Boehner's proposed debt limit bill and ultimately voted against the final debt ceiling agreement.
2011: Start of Congressional Career
Trey Gowdy began his tenure as a U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district in 2011.
2012: Defender of Economic Freedom Award
In 2012, Trey Gowdy received the Defender of Economic Freedom award from the Club for Growth, a fiscally conservative organization. The award recognized his high score based on the Club's metrics, reflecting his alignment with their economic principles.
2012: Benghazi Attack
The Benghazi attack, a significant event that Trey Gowdy's committee investigated, occurred in 2012.
2012: Re-election to Congress
Trey Gowdy successfully secured a second term in Congress in 2012, defeating Democrat Deb Morrow with a comfortable margin of 65% to 34%.
March 4, 2014: Gowdy Introduces ENFORCE the Law Act
On March 4, 2014, Trey Gowdy put forth the ENFORCE the Law Act to the House of Representatives. This bill aimed to grant the House and the Senate the authority to take legal action against the President in federal court to seek clarification on federal law if they believed the executive branch was neglecting its enforcement. House Republicans, including Gowdy, argued for the bill's necessity due to their perception of the Obama Administration's failure to enforce certain laws. The bill was passed by the House but ultimately did not become law.
2014: Appointment as Chair of the House Select Committee on Benghazi
In 2014, Trey Gowdy was appointed as the Chair of the United States House Select Committee on Benghazi.
2014: Re-election to Congress for a Third Term
Trey Gowdy won re-election to Congress for a third term in 2014, facing only Libertarian candidate Curtis E. McLaughlin and receiving 85% of the vote.
July 2015: Gowdy Considered for Attorney General by Trump
In July 2015, Donald Trump, then a Republican nominee for president, included Trey Gowdy on a list of potential candidates for the position of United States Attorney General in a prospective Trump administration.
December 2015: Gowdy Endorses Rubio, Strains Relations with Trump
In December 2015, Trey Gowdy announced his endorsement of Senator Marco Rubio for president, highlighting Rubio's commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises. This endorsement created tension between Gowdy and Donald Trump, whose campaign criticized Gowdy's handling of the Benghazi investigation.
March 2016: Rubio Withdraws from Presidential Race
In March 2016, Senator Marco Rubio, whom Trey Gowdy had endorsed for president, withdrew from the presidential race after losing the Florida primary to Donald Trump. This event marked a turning point in the Republican primaries and ultimately led to Gowdy's subsequent endorsement of Trump.
November 2016: Re-election to Congress for a Fourth Term
In November 2016, Trey Gowdy successfully won re-election to Congress for a fourth term, defeating Democrat Chris Fedalei with 67% of the vote.
2016: Trump's Election and Gowdy's Defense of FBI and Mueller Investigation
Following Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential election, Trey Gowdy faced criticism from Trump supporters for his defense of the FBI and Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the election.
2016: Strzok Expresses Concern Over Trump's Behavior
In 2016, FBI agent Peter Strzok, amidst the presidential election, privately expressed concern over Donald Trump's behavior, particularly regarding remarks Trump made about the family of a deceased American war veteran. Strzok's concerns would later be scrutinized during a 2018 congressional hearing led by Trey Gowdy.
2016: Trump Accuses FBI of Spying on His Campaign
In 2016, during his presidential campaign, Donald Trump accused the FBI of spying on his activities. This accusation would later be challenged by Trey Gowdy in 2018, leading to a notable political controversy.
2016: End of Chairmanship and Involvement in 2016 Presidential Campaign
Trey Gowdy's chairmanship of the House Select Committee on Benghazi concluded in 2016. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he advocated for the prosecution of Hillary Clinton.
May 2017: Gowdy Declines Consideration for FBI Director
Following the dismissal of FBI Director James Comey in May 2017, Trey Gowdy was considered as a potential replacement. However, Gowdy expressed his desire to remain in his congressional role to Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
June 2017: Appointment as Chair of House Oversight Committee
In June 2017, Trey Gowdy assumed the role of Chair of the House Oversight Committee.
December 1, 2017: Settlement Reached in Gowdy Aide's Lawsuit
On December 1, 2017, the Congressional Office of Compliance revealed that a former aide of Trey Gowdy's had reached a settlement with Congress and the House Employment Counsel. This settlement pertained to a lawsuit filed by the aide alleging that he was fired partly due to his unwillingness to solely focus investigations on Hillary Clinton, a claim later dropped, and due to his absence while fulfilling Air Force Reserve duties. This settlement raised questions about the use of taxpayer funds and Gowdy's management of his staff during his time as chairman of the House Select Committee on Benghazi.
January 31, 2018: Announcement of Retirement from Congress
On January 31, 2018, Trey Gowdy announced his decision to retire from Congress and return to a legal career.
May 2018: Gowdy Challenges Trump's Accusation of FBI Spying
In May 2018, Trey Gowdy publicly challenged President Trump's claim that the FBI had spied on his 2016 presidential campaign. This stance led to criticism from Trump allies, but Gowdy received support from then-Speaker Paul Ryan, who found his assessment accurate.
June 2018: Congressional Hearing and Call to Conclude Special Counsel Investigation
During a congressional hearing in June 2018, Trey Gowdy urged Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to bring the special counsel investigation to a close. Rosenstein, however, disagreed with the suggestion, stating that the investigation should reach its natural conclusion "appropriately."
June 2018: Ryan Supports Gowdy's Assessment of FBI Spying Claim
In June 2018, Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House at the time, publicly backed Trey Gowdy's stance on the FBI spying accusations made by President Trump. Ryan's support came amidst backlash Gowdy faced from Trump allies and affirmed Gowdy's stance as accurate.
July 2018: Gowdy Suggests Impropriety by FBI Agent Peter Strzok
During a congressional hearing in July 2018, Trey Gowdy raised concerns about potential misconduct by FBI agent Peter Strzok. Gowdy argued that Strzok displayed bias against Donald Trump and in favor of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election, which influenced his work at the FBI. Gowdy focused on a text message from Strzok stating "we'll stop Trump," which Strzok explained as a personal, off-the-cuff reaction to Trump's behavior and not indicative of any intention to interfere with the election.
January 2019: Terri Dillard Gowdy's Profession Revealed
As of January 2019, Terri Dillard Gowdy, wife of Trey Gowdy, was working as a first-grade teacher in the Spartanburg School District. Terri Gowdy is a former Miss Spartanburg and was a runner-up in the Miss South Carolina pageant.
2019: End of Congressional Career
Trey Gowdy concluded his service as a U.S. Representative in 2019.
2021: Transition to Media Career
Trey Gowdy embarked on a media career in early 2021, serving as an interim host on Fox News Primetime and later becoming the host of "Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy."
May 2023: Guest Host on Fox News Tonight
Trey Gowdy appeared as a guest host on Fox News Tonight in May 2023 following the departure of Tucker Carlson.