LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A bizarre sex scandal involving Michigan lawmakers and their potential misuse of public resources in a cover-up plot possibly prompted by blackmail shows no signs of abating.
A guide to events that have two legislators fighting for their political lives:
AFFAIR
First-term Republican Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, outspoken social conservatives who base legislation on their Christian beliefs, had an extramarital affair of an unclear duration. The tea party activists won election to the House after defeating “establishment” candidates. In 2013, they surprised at the GOP convention by nearly unseating the then-chairman and vice chairwoman of the state Republican Party.
Courser, 43, apologized in an audio statement and publicly admitted to orchestrating a false email sent to Republicans and the media in mid-May claiming he had been caught having sex with a male prostitute behind a Lansing nightclub, apparently to make supporters not believe or disregard his relationship with Gamrat if it was revealed. In secret audio recordings provided to The Detroit News by a former aide to Courser and Gamrat, Courser said his goal was a “controlled burn.” Gamrat, 42, tearfully apologized in a news conference where she denied any role in the email plot.
STAFF
In an unusual arrangement, Courser and Gamrat shared three staffers despite having districts far apart. He is from Lapeer in the Thumb and is an attorney; she lives in Plainwell north of Kalamazoo and homeschooled her children after working as a nurse. One of the aides, Ben Graham, refused to send the fictional email after Courser told him to take a sick day to do it, according to recordings and text messages he gave the newspaper. Graham and another staffer, Keith Allard, received healthy pay raises in June but were fired in early July. The third aide, Josh Cline, quit in April and plans a Monday news conference to tell the “inside story” of working for both lawmakers.
BLACKMAIL CONSPIRACY
Courser said he concocted the email scheme because he was being blackmailed, which appears to be consistent with what he indicated on the recordings three months ago. He and his brother posted to Facebook anonymous text messages they said they received urging Courser to resign or else the affair would be exposed. Courser said his aides conspired with a “blackmailer” political consultant in the establishment “Lansing mafia” and the email was an attempt to sniff them out. The staffers and consultant denied the allegations, and others said Courser is paranoid and has no one to blame but himself.
INVESTIGATION
GOP House Speaker Kevin Cotter ordered an inquiry by the House Business Office. It is investigating whether the two aides blew the whistle and were improperly discharged, if taxpayer resources were used for personnel or political gain and whether there was misconduct potentially warranting the legislators’ expulsion. Director Tim Bowlin is expected to report back soon and also could forward his findings to law enforcement. A legislative rule prohibits members from converting state-provided staff, facilities, services or supplies for “personal, business and/or campaign use unrelated to House business.”
SPEAKER’S ROLE
Shortly after the phony email went out, Graham met with Norm Saari, Cotter’s then-chief of staff whom Gov. Rick Snyder has since appointed as a regulator on the Michigan Public Service Commission. He informed Saari of the affair and the email. Democrats, calling for an independent probe by Attorney General Bill Schuette, said Cotter mishandled the situation and should have immediately investigated the misuse of state resources. They also questioned why the aides were let go. Cotter said the first time he knew of any secret recordings or potential misappropriation of resources was when he read the News story. Courser echoed Democrats’ questions. Schuette did not comment.
HISTORY
Even before the controversy became public, Courser and Gamrat clashed with House leadership and nonpartisan staff. In January, Courser wanted different office furniture and opposed his seat assignment in the House chamber. Gamrat was kicked out of House Republicans’ closed-door caucus meetings in April. Courser soon after stopped attending the meetings.
WHAT’S NEXT
Neither Courser nor Gamrat plans to resign despite calls to do so, though Gamrat is leaving the door open. The 109-member House could expel them for misconduct with a two-thirds vote, which has happened just twice in history, in 2001 in the Senate and 1978 in the House. If crimes occurred, the state constitution also states “no person who has been convicted of subversion or who has within the preceding 20 years been convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust” is eligible to serve in the Legislature. Citizens also may attempt to remove them through recall elections. The lawmakers certainly will face primary challenges in their GOP-leaning seats next August.
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