2 Michigan lawmakers forced from office over affair face felony charges

[cigaretteman]

Remember these two?:

Todd Courser
Dale G. Young, AP


House sergeants escort state Rep. Todd Courser from the chamber after he signed a letter of resignation in Lansing, Mich., on Sept. 11, 2015.

House sergeants escort state Rep. Todd Courser from the chamber after he signed a letter of resignation in Lansing, Mich., on Sept. 11, 2015.

(Dale G. Young, AP)
Tribune news servicesContact Reporter


The Michigan attorney general says two Michigan lawmakers who were forced from office over an extramarital affair are being charged with felonies in the case.

Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Friday that Todd Courser is being charged with perjury for lying under oath during testimony to lawmakers, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He says Cindy Gamrat is being charged with misconduct in office, punishable by five years in prison.

Cindy Gamrat
Dale G. Young / AP
State Rep. Cindy Gamrat looks at the voting board during hearings in Lansing, Mich., on Sept. 10, 2015.

State Rep. Cindy Gamrat looks at the voting board during hearings in Lansing, Mich., on Sept. 10, 2015.

(Dale G. Young / AP)

Courser, who resigned rather than be expelled, and Gamrat, who was kicked out, were ousted from their posts in September.

After the scandal broke in August, the freshmen Republican House members asked to be censured. But the Republican-led House pursued expulsion.


The Associated Press left messages seeking comment from Courser and Gamrat.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...gan-lawmakers-sex-scandal-20160226-story.html

 

[SL Hawk Fan]

These two should come on down to Missouri if they wish to continue in their current trade. MO's state legislature is one big frat party. They'd fit right in.

 

[cigaretteman]

For those who haven't been following this case:

Michigan state Rep. Todd Courser on Monday apologized for covering up an alleged extra-marital affair with fellow Rep. Cindy Gamrat but suggested that an anonymous blackmailer had forced his hand.

Courser, in a 27-minute audio statement posted on his campaign website, acknowledged that he circulated an email accusing himself of other salacious behavior in order to distract from the potential revelation of an affair with Gamrat.

The email was "inexcusable," he said, but was prompted by a series of anonymous texts he began receiving on or around May 19 that culminated with what he described as attempted blackmail.

"The email in question was really put in motion to try to disrupt the blackmailer and to give me some clues as to what their ability was as far as surveillance over my life and the threats they were making," said Courser, R-Lapeer.

Former staffer Ben Graham released audio files to The Detroit News last week exposing Courser's plot to send out a fake email accusing himself of doing drugs and having sex with a male prostitute behind a Lansing nightclub, which he called a "controlled burn" designed to "inoculate the herd" against other rumors.

In the recordings, Graham can be heard advising Courser against his plan of action and suggesting he consider resignation.

But Courser now says he suspects Graham was "in the middle" of the blackmail scheme, although he has not been able to trace the number of the person who sent him text messages, and the number he provided appears to have been disconnected. He also suggested various staffers who had worked for him and Gamrat were feeding information to House Speaker Kevin Cotter's office.

"I could have resigned — this is really the option that the anonymous texter wanted — and done so quietly," Courser said. "But that would have allowed my personal issues to rule the day and deny the truth of all of it to the people that elected me. I essentially would have been submitting to the authority of the establishment machine and doing so to protect myself and to protect my family."

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Courser and Gamrat, R-Plainwell, are both freshman lawmakers who have shared staff and resources since taking office in January. They are each married and have children. Tea party favorites and social conservatives, they've co-sponsored bills that would allow only clergy to perform marriages and outlaw abortion after conception.

Tea party activists were reeling from the news last week, expressing sadness, shock and disappointment. They were expected to pray for Courser and Gamrat this weekend during a previously scheduled event.

Courser, in particular, has also faced numerous calls to resign. He "has proven to be completely unfit to represent the hardworking residents of Lapeer County, using taxpayer dollars to abide and assist his gross misconduct," U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, said Friday.

But Courser, in his audio statement, said he has chosen to stay in office and — as an admittedly "broken messenger" — publicly discuss the "political shenanigans" played in Lansing. He used the phrase "Lansing mafia" and alleged broad efforts to limit his voice in the state Capitol, even suggesting his office had been "bugged."

"I feel it is absolutely essential for the cause of liberty to have these clandestine operations to control public officials exposed, so I've refused to leave quietly and have decided these issues really need to come out," he said.

Cotter on Monday called Courser's claims "completely ridiculous." Graham, along with fellow former House staffers Keith Allard and Joshua Cline, said there is "absolutely no truth" to the accusations Courser levied against them and vowed to cooperate with any investigation.

Cotter has ordered a probe by the House Business Office. If Courser or Gamrat violated House rules, they could be punished. Any criminal matters would be forwarded to relevant law enforcement authorities.

"Basically, we're asking them to look into everything they can and see what wrongdoing there is," said Cotter spokesman Gideon D'Assandro said Friday.

Courser, for his part, said he planned and executed the email without assistance from Gamrat. He apologized to her husband and children, among others, and said he was working to repair his relationship with his own family.

He also apologized to God and the general public.

"You have my deepest and my most sorrowful and my most humble apology," Courser said. "I don't know at what point I can get past the guilt and shame I feel."

http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/08/michigan_rep_todd_courser_apol.html

 

[pablow]

Frank Burns and Hot Lips Houlihan?

 

[SIXERS24]

15 years in Jail

And Bill Clinton got what for the same thing?

 

[cigaretteman]

15 years in Jail

And Bill Clinton got what for the same thing?

 

[jscott78]

That chick would have done well in a stall at the Metrodome during a hawk game with some random.

Remember these two?:

Todd Courser
Dale G. Young, AP


House sergeants escort state Rep. Todd Courser from the chamber after he signed a letter of resignation in Lansing, Mich., on Sept. 11, 2015.

House sergeants escort state Rep. Todd Courser from the chamber after he signed a letter of resignation in Lansing, Mich., on Sept. 11, 2015.

(Dale G. Young, AP)
Tribune news servicesContact Reporter


The Michigan attorney general says two Michigan lawmakers who were forced from office over an extramarital affair are being charged with felonies in the case.

Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Friday that Todd Courser is being charged with perjury for lying under oath during testimony to lawmakers, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He says Cindy Gamrat is being charged with misconduct in office, punishable by five years in prison.

Cindy Gamrat
Dale G. Young / AP
State Rep. Cindy Gamrat looks at the voting board during hearings in Lansing, Mich., on Sept. 10, 2015.

State Rep. Cindy Gamrat looks at the voting board during hearings in Lansing, Mich., on Sept. 10, 2015.

(Dale G. Young / AP)

Courser, who resigned rather than be expelled, and Gamrat, who was kicked out, were ousted from their posts in September.

After the scandal broke in August, the freshmen Republican House members asked to be censured. But the Republican-led House pursued expulsion.


The Associated Press left messages seeking comment from Courser and Gamrat.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...gan-lawmakers-sex-scandal-20160226-story.html

 

[lucas80]

So much repressed MILF in Gamrat. Would. Well, sometimes repressed.

 

[The Tradition]

So much repressed MILF in Gamrat. Would. Well, sometimes repressed.

She looks hot in some pictures. In others, not so much.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

These two should come on down to Missouri if they wish to continue in their current trade. MO's state legislature is one big frat party. They'd fit right in.

Beer and 19 year old interns for all my men!

 

[ANYCHawk]

She looks hot in some pictures. In others, not so much.

She is the definition of "crazy eyes"

 

[3 and Out on D]

We'll see how vigorously they pursue prosecution.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is more show than anything else.

 

[ANYCHawk]

We'll see how vigorously they pursue prosecution.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is more show than anything else.

Are you kidding me? Bill Schuette wants to be governor. He's gonna make an example of people in his own party to show he's not a party lackey.

 

[joelbc1]

These two should come on down to Missouri if they wish to continue in their current trade. MO's state legislature is one big frat party. They'd fit right in.

Are they related?

 

[3 and Out on D]

Are you kidding me? Bill Schuette wants to be governor. He's gonna make an example of people in his own party to show he's not a party lackey.

I'll determine if he's a party lackey by how he handles the Flint water disaster.

What he does to the two goofball congressional lovers is all for show.

 

[Herkmeister]

She looks hot in some pictures. In others, not so much.

A few beers and a couple shots and she would be better then Lois Feldman.

 

[joelbc1]

A few beers and a couple shots and she would be better then Lois Feldman.

You mean "the legendary Lois Feldman" don't you?

 

[bdg8]

So he lied and said he banged a dude behind a bar to cover up screwing a married woman . Interesting approach

 

[plmac9]

Frank Burns and Hot Lips Houlihan?

Frank Burns eats worms