The release
today of an edited, composite version of the internal investigative report
targeting disgraced state Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat leaves little
doubt that they will face expulsion if they do not quickly resign.
The 40-page
summary concludes that the two tea party lawmakers used taxpayer dollars to
cover up their extra-marital affair and to promote their political ambitions
outside the office of state representative.
report sharply condemns the two Religious Right conservatives for lying to
investigators from the House Business Office in a last-ditch effort to preserve
their shaky status as House members.
As a special
committee formed to consider their expulsion prepares to meet for the first
time tomorrow morning, the freshman representatives are accused of “deceptive,
deceitful and outright dishonest conduct.”
Office found several examples of misconduct that are wholly inappropriate for a
sitting lawmaker,” House Speaker Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, said in a
statement. “Out of respect for the office, Representatives Courser and Gamrat
should resign immediately.”
According to
The Detroit News, the business office’s report cited testimony and
documentation from Courser and Gamrat’s former aides Keith Allard, Ben Graham
and Joshua Cline as evidence of the representatives’ misconduct in office.
Courser
and Gamrat “misrepresented themselves on several occasions during their
testimony,” the report said
and Gamrat, according to the report, engaged in the bizarre cover-up scheme
that resulted in the firings of two reluctant staffers. The recent attempt to
blame their behavior on “blackmail” text messages, the investigators concluded,
was “a diversion from the issues” examined by the Business Office.
