Though a Michigan House attorney recommended State Rep. Cindy Gamrat only be censured, a special House Committee Thursday morning recommended both she and Rep. Todd Courser be expelled for an attempted coverup of an extra-marital affair.
The full House of Representatives in Lansing, 110 members, now will vote on the question today, but rules require two-thirds to agree to expulsion.
Gamrat (R-Plainwell), who represents Hopkins, Martn and Watson townships and most of Allegan County, was elected in the August Republic Party primary and November general election in 2014. She has been president of the Allegan County Tea Party.
She and Courser (R-Lapeer) were identified as close associates in the Tea Party and they combined their legislative offices last January when they began their two-year terms as freshman legislators.
They have been accused of misconduct and misusing taxpayer funds and resources to hide their affair.
It was a special committee of six House members, including two Democrats and four Republicans. The vote to recommend expulsion for both was 4-0 with the two Dems abstaining.
Only three members of the State Legislature have ever been expelled thus far in its 178-year history.
MLive, through the Grand Rapids Press, reported this morning that Mike Nichols, an attorney for Gamrat, said the Plainwell Republican continues to consider various options, including possible resignation before any House vote.
“She’s being held together by string, gum, maybe a little bit of lipstick,” Nichols told reporters after the committee vote. “It’s not been an easy week.”
Michigan House Speaker Kevin Cotter ordered an investigation of Courser and Gamrat in August after the Detroit Free Press reported their affair and a bizarre cover-up scheme that involved a fake e-mail accusing Courser of having a bogus affair with a male prostitute.
Gamrat appeared before the special committee Tuesday to apologize and to ask for censure rather than expulsion. The House Business Office attorney agreed with her, but recommended Courser be expelled immediately, asserting she was an accomplice.
The final vote of the full House on whether to censure or expel may be held as early as later today.
