State Rep. Cindy Gamrat, who represents Hopkins, Watson and Martin townships in Lansing, asked a special committee Tuesday to recommend she be censured rather than expelled in the wake of the sex scandal involving her and fellow State Rep. Todd Courser.

The committee began proceedings Tuesday to consider the fitness of her and Courser to continue serving as legislators after they admitted to combining their legislative offices, having an extra-marital affair and attempting to cover it up.

Gamrat for the first time acknowledged she knew about a phony e-mail Courser concocted to divert attention from the affair to a bogus story about him having an affair with a male prostitute.

Gamrat (R-Plainwell), maintained that censure would preserve the decision of the people of the 80^th legislative district who elected her last November.

She also promised improved constituent services after receiving many allegations she was not visible or available to voters and residents of the 80^th District. Indeed, she has not been present at any meetings of the Hopkins, Martin or Watson township boards in the 13 months since she won the GOP primary.

Michigan House General Counsel Brock Swartzle, chief of staff to Speaker Kevin Cotter, said, “It is my recommendation… that Representative Courser be expelled immediately and that Representative Gamrat receive a censure with severe conditions.”

Swartzle was very critical of Courser’s behavior.

his ability to properly represent his constituents in the

He referred to Courser’s e-mail as “quite possibly the most bizarre attempt at misdirection” he’s ever seen in the Michigan Legislature.

He asserted, “It is incontrovertible that Representative Courser’s actions have bought disgrace to the House.”

Swartzle said evidence suggests Gamrat was an “accomplice” and a principal actor in some instances, but Courser was the instigator of the coverup.

If Gamrat is given censure rather than expulsion, she could lose some committee assignments or authority over staffing decisions and office expenses.

Gamrat admitted she and Courser misused paid staff members and mixed official and political business in their combined office.

She said, “I take full responsibility for my role in Representative Courser’s plan and the resulting harm it has caused.”

Courser attended Tuesday’s hearing with his new attorneys, who said they have not decided yet whether they will recommend he testify Wednesday.

Expulsion would require a two-thirds super majority vote in the full House.