The Detroit News today is repor
ting that a Michigan House of Representatives report maintains that State Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat “misused” their offices, staff and taxpayer resources to cover up their extra-marital affair.
Gamrat is a freshman Republican lawmaker from Plainwell who represents Hopkins, Watson and Martin townships in the 80th Legislative District. She was elected by plurality in the August 2014 primary and in the general election last November.
The report stated Gamrat and Courser (R-Lapeer) presented comments that conflicted with documentary evidence and with audiotapes provided by their three former staff members, Joshua Cline, Ben Graham and Keith Allard. Cline resigned last spring and Graham and Allard were fired by the two lawmakers in July.
The 40-page House Business Office investigation was promoted by a Detroit News story Aug. 7. The report alleges Courser and Gamrat are guilty of “deceptive, deceitful and outright dishonest conduct.”
A special House committee already has scheduled its first hearing on the matter for 9 a.m. Tuesday at the State Capitol n Lansing. It is possible that the hearings could lead to expulsion of both legislators.
Michigan House Speaker Kevin Cotter said, “The Business Office found several examples of misconduct that are wholly inappropriate for a sitting lawmaker. Out of respect for the office, Representatives Courser and Gamrat should resign immediately.”
Both Courser and Gamrat “misrepresented themselves on several occasions during their testimony,” the report said.
Courser and Gamrat, both of who are member of the Tea Party and have very publicly espoused Christian and family values views, both have refused to resign, but have issued apologies for having an extra-marital affair. They have denied allegations they have misused public officers to cover up their affair.
The two combined their offices into one last January, a move they said was made to save taxpayers money.
The Detroit News earlier this month printed a story indicating that Courser tried to persuade Graham, a House employee, to help conceal his relationship with Gamrat. He asked the aide to distribute a fictional e-mail, claiming he was caught having sex with a male prostitute behind a Lansing nightclub.
Though Graham refused, the sexually explicit e-mail was distributed to Republicans on May 20 and 21.
