Jump to content

Arrest Warrants Issued For Republican Lawmakers Gamrat And Courser


beourbud

Recommended Posts

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/todd-courser-cindy-gamrat-felony-charges_us_56d0b648e4b03260bf76ccfb

 

Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, former Michigan lawmakers who left office after they hid an affair, have been charged with several felonies, state Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Friday.

 

Gamrat was charged with two counts of misconduct in office, while Courser was charged with three counts of misconduct as well as perjury for lying under oath about having a staffer sign his name to a proposed bill.

 

“Instead of serving their home towns, they served only themselves at the expense of everyone else,” Schuette said in a statement. “With the filing of these charges, it is my hope that citizens of Michigan see that no one is above the law, not even those who walk in the halls of power; that no one is beyond the reach of the law, not even those who make the laws and when laws are broken, that justice can and will be delivered.”

 

Schuette accused Gamrat and Courser of engaging "in a pattern of corrupt conduct.” They are both accused of lying to the House of Representatives Business Office during an official investigation.

 

Courser and Gamrat, both tea party Republicans, served in the state House of Representatives until September when Gamrat was expelled and Courser resigned. Both failed to win back their seats when they ran for re-election in November.

 

The criminal charges stem from a bizarre scandal, first exposed in August when the Detroit News published audio of Courser talking about his extramarital affair with Gamrat. In the recording, he instructs an aide, who secretly taped the conversation, to send an anonymous mass email accusing Courser of paying a man for sex: the fake story was intended to distract from the actual affair.

 

The staffer, Ben Graham, said he refused to send the email and was later fired.

 

Josh Cline, another former staffer, said his bosses created a hostile work environment and ignored his requests that they behave more professionally. He claimed the lawmakers would often embrace, skip meetings, go on long walks together and that Gamrat would "tuck in" Courser when he napped in her office.

 

 

VIA REPRESENTATIVES' WEBSITES

Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, two former Michigan lawmakers who left office in 2015, were charged with felonies for alleged misconduct in office on Feb. 26, 2016, stemming from the cover-up of an extramarital affair. Courser was also charged with perjury.

After the Detroit News report, Courser issued two long statements explaining his actions. In one, he said that if a lawmaker doesn’t go along with the “Lansing [Michigan] mafia,” they will “destroy you by doing what they can to malign, smear and undermine you.”

 

Gamrat apologized for her behavior but said she believed an "open and honest" investigation would vindicate her. She said she was not aware of the email Courser planned to send.

 

Only Courser was charged with misconduct for allegedly soliciting a state employee to send a false email to the public.

 

The criminal charges underscore the need to hold elected officials accountable, state House Minority Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) said in a statement Friday. He called for the Freedom of Information Act to be extended to include the legislature and governor's office, “so that we can finally eliminate Lansing’s culture of corruption."

 

Courser’s perjury charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; the misconduct charges each come with a 5-year maximum. Arrest warrants have been issued for the former lawmakers.

Edited by beourbud
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Haven't these people suffered enough already? Now Bill Schuette wants to rub salt in their wounds so the people of Michigan can see what a great governor he would be.

 

Put a turban and a beard on Mr. Schuette and he could easily step into the role of Grand Mufti of the Taliban Morals Police.

That's almost exactly what Steven King said about Ted Cruz. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another example of republican "Family Values"

 

Surprised they were not on the ethics committee.

 

It is sickening to think they were arrogant enough to believe they would be re-elected.

 

They lied to their spouses, constituents, collegues.

 

Who were these Kochsuckers working for?

Edited by beourbud
Link to comment
Share on other sites

you think just maybe this is an attempt to turn eyes away from the real criminals. like our beloved gov. the thief of Michigan, and persecutor of the poor. Lets all point the finger at the bionkers in goverment. If gettin laid at work is as big a deal as this is made out to be, then thousands should be gettin charged. JMHO like who cares they made like rabbits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the charges arent for adultery. the charges arent for their sex relationship. the charges arent for them lying to their spouses or anything stupid.

 

their charges are for lying, under oath. perjury. you know, perjury, what kwame kilpatrick was convicted for- for lying about his affair with christine beatty?

 

also for conspiring to commit fraud about whatever signature things.

 

i'm surprised people want to let them off the hook for that just because they were kicked out of office and lost an election.

 

please explain your rationale why these people should be let off the hook for perjury and the other charges.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is Bill Schuette creating the bonifides that he is tough on white collar crime (even when it involves Republicans). Nothing more and nothing less. He is craven to become Governor. Note he has also broken with Governor Snyder on several issues... Bill Schuette is a working man just like most Michiganders, will be his shtick.

 

You have to wonder if he will throw the book at arch conservative idiot, Court of Appeals Justice, Henry Saad... Who has written some of the most onerous words about the MMMA... Who was caught trying to board a commercial airlines to Florida, with a loaded concealed pistol in his carry-on bag last Sunday. Unlike you or I, he was allowed to board the airlines and fly away. What do you suppose will happen to him legally?

 

Pretty ironic the story barely made the media. It was front and center at the CPU lists serve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Who would be Schette's potential rivals for the nomination? Mainstream Republcans? Or the Tea Party/Trump Republcans?

 

Interesting if both Courser and Gamrat are charged criminally. Courser is understandable. Gamster is something else. More intrigue in Lansing than the Borgia's Vatican although more lethal to the citizens than the courtesans these days.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree that illegal acts performed as a function of their official duties is criminal and they should be prosecuted, but leave the immoral acts out of it. The way this news is worded makes it appear that their immoral acts were criminal behavior. I'm pretty sure that the Religious Conservatives that Schuette courts view immoral activities as criminal behavior. That's their view on marijuana anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...