First-term Michigan Reps. Todd Courser, 43, and Cindy Gamrat, 42. (Facebook photos)
Spoiler: This will come as no surprise.
A House of Representatives report released Monday finds that State Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat “misused” their Lansing offices, staff and taxpayer resources “to cover-up an affair” and benefit “their own political advantage," according to Chad Livengood of The Detroit News.
The internal inquiry summary cites “deceptive, deceitful and outright dishonest conduct” by the two first-term Republican lawmakers.
Livengood, who broke the original story Aug. 7, writes:
The report goes on to say the two lawmakers "are not credible witnesses” because their comments conflicted with documentary evidence and audios presented by their three former staff members that were deemed to be more accurate.
A 40-page summary of the House Business Office’s investigation, sparked by The Detroit News’ Aug. 7 revelation of Courser’s attempt to cover up the affair, details how the two freshman representatives used their offices for political gain and to maintain and cover up their Capitol romance.
The business office 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.
Both Courser and Gamrat “misrepresented themselves on several occasions during their testimony,” the report said.
Biz office report: Aides "were required to lie" about Courser & Gamrat's whereabouts "including to family to facilitate...romantic meetings"
— Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) August 31, 2015
The House has approved a committee to determine if the two lawmakers are fit to remain in office.
If members find they're fit to serve, the bar would be pretty low.
-- Allan Lengel
