LANSING, MI (WTVB/WHTC) – The House Select Committee to Examine the Qualifications of Representatives Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser concluded three days of meetings on Thursday morning by recommending to the full House expulsion of the two freshmen Republicans for violating chamber rules in covering up their adulterous relationship. Both Gamrat of Plainwell and Courser of Lapeer had apologized to the committee earlier this week for their actions and said that they would accept censure.
The votes to expel the two Tea Party Republicans were unanimous among the four GOP members of the committee, with two Democrats refusing to vote, saying that wanted a more in-depth investigation, even though both Courser and Gamrat admitted to misusing taxpayer money to conceal their extramarital affair.
The House floor considered the matter on Thursday afternoon, but a two-thirds vote needed to remove them from office failed. Both lawmakers have resisisted numerous calls from both sides of the political aisle to resign since the scandal broke last month.
-Gary Stevens of WHTC, Holland contributed to this report.
