House Speaker Calls For Courser, Gamrat To Resign After Committee Finds Misconduct, Misuse Of Funds
LANSING (CBS Detroit) The twisting sex, lies and text saga that the legislative careers of Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser have become added another chapter Monday when the House Business Office released its investigation into the pair.
"The Business Office found several examples of misconduct that are wholly inappropriate for a sitting lawmaker," said Speaker of the House Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, in a release. "Out of respect for the office, Representatives Courser and Gamrat should resign immediately. But because these two will not do the right thing for their constituents, for their families and for the House, we will now move forward with a select committee to examine their qualifications."
The investigation focused not on the couple's extramarital affair, but on the evidence they lied about it multiple times in an elaborate cover up. Audio recordings were released to the Detroit News that detailed Courser talking about the affair.
Courser previously declined to comment after the House voted to form the special committee to investigate him and Gamrat. Earlier, though, he did apologize and admitted to orchestrating an email sent to Republicans and the media in May falsely claiming he had been caught having sex with a male prostitute behind a Lansing nightclub, apparently to throw voters and colleagues off the trail of the sexual relationship he was hiding with Gamrat. Gamrat and Courser are both Tea Party Republicans.
He said he concocted the scheme because he was being blackmailed. Michigan State Police are investigating the claim, and early reports show the phone used in the "blackmail" was registered in Courser's name.
For her part, Gamrat gave a press conference Aug. 14 where she denied knowledge of the email scam, but the report found her denial untrue based on audio recordings and interviews with her staff.
"The evidence displays a lack of respect for constituents on the part of both representatives, which undermines the legitimacy of their status as representatives and calls into question their ability to effectively represent their districts," the report says. Read the entire report HERE.
The next step is for a committee to examine the allegations and evidence in a public forum. The committee will begin hearings at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1.
According to the AP, the state constitution allows the 109-member House to expel a member with a two-thirds vote and gives the chamber broad discretion to decide grounds for expulsion. Cotter said the panel, which will have subpoena powers and be able to administer oaths, could recommend another form of discipline or no discipline.
The resolution notes that "confidence in government is a prerequisite to the functioning of a democratic society." It also cites a House rule that prohibits members from converting state-provided staff, facilities, services or supplies for "personal, business and/or campaign use unrelated to House business."
