A Michigan House B
usiness Office investigation claims that State Reps. Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser Michigan state Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, “misused taxpayer resources” in an alleged attempted coverup of their extra-marital affair.
House Business Office Director Tim Bowling today released preliminary results of the probe ordered by Michigan House Speaker Kevin Cotter in the wake of revelations by the Detroit News earlier this month.
Gamrat (R-Plainwell), who represents the 80th House District, which includes Hopkins, Watson and Martin townships, has been called on the Allegan County Republican Party to resign, but both she and Courser have refused.
Courser (R-Lapeer) and Gamrat are members of the Tea Party. After they were elected as Republicans, they insisted on combining their offices in the State Capitol and sharing staff members. At teh heart of the claims they misused taxpayer resources is the charge they used staff members paid for by public funds to aid them in covering up their affair. Courser was recorded on audiotape asking a now former aide to help send a phony e-mail accusing himself of taking drugs and having sex with a male prostitute to throw doubt into the veracity of extra-martial affair suspicions,
The House Business Office’s preliminary report is being forwarded to attorneys for independent review. The findings of the review will be made public after they are completed.
Courser has countered that he sent the fake e-mails after pressure from a blackmailer. Police are investigating that issue as well.
Though Gamrat has denied having a role in the coverup, there are charges that she knew about it and did nothing to stop it. One staffer resigned last April and two aides to both representatives were fired in July. Gamrat has said public her aide’s firing was due to numerous complaints about his performance.
Cotter, after receiving the preliminary report today said in an official statement,”I have received a draft report to review, and there is troubling evidence of misconduct. I am directing my legal counsel to review the preliminary findings for the purposes of any further disciplinary actions.”
A new special House committee is being formed to consider whether Courser and Gamrat should remain in office. The committee could consider expulsion, which would require public hearings and a two-thirds majority of the 100 members of the Michigan Legislature.
Both Gamrat and Courser have publicly apologized for their extra-marital affair, but have denied they misused public funds for a coverup.
PHOTOS: Rep. Cindy Gamrat Rep. Todd Courser