UPDATE 8:30 p.m. LANSING (WKZO) — Cindy Gamrat made last statement as she was packing up her office yesterday at the State Capitol, once again apologizing for her mistakes and offering to do what she can to make amends. .
Gamrat Is now only the fourth Michigan State Representative in history to be expelled for misconduct. She and Todd Courser are now the subject of twin investigations by the Attorney General and the State Police to determine if any of her or Courser’s efforts or activities in office amount to criminal violations.
The misuse of taxpayers funds, making false police reports and election law misdemeanors are all possible criminal law violations.
The Lt. Governor has announced that special elections will be held to replace Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser, and it will be hurry up and wait for those interested candidates who have until next Friday, September 18th at the close of business to Register to run.
The rush is because the deadline for filing to get items on the November Ballot has already passed and it takes time to get ballots reprinted.
A primary will be held in November, and the election itself won’t be held until next March, which is seven months away.
The wait is because those are the only times elections can now be held in Michigan, thanks to recent Republican changes in election law.
Then whoever wins will have to turn around and get ready for another possible primary in August and a second election to hang onto the job in November of next year.
UPDATE 4:21 a.m. Friday: LANSING (WKZO-AM) — It’s been a long long sesson for Michigan State House members who were deadlocked over the issue of expelling State Rep. Todd Courser all night and into the morning.
Democrats refused to vote, demanding the issue be sent back to the Select Committee for further investigation, and particularly into the role played by House Speaker Kevin Cotter and his staff. They were reportedly negotiating for an independent investigation when that deal fell apart.
Just after 3 a.m. the deadlock was broken when Courser submitted his immediate resignation.
Gamrat was expelled on a 91-12 vote Friday morning after a deal to investigate Courser was struck between members of both parties.
Original story: LANSING (WKZO-AM) — A House panel has recommended expulsion for Reps. Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser, after the Republicans used taxpayer resources in a failed attempt to cover up their sexual relationship.
The vote was 4-0 on Thursday along party lines, with both Democratic members of the select committee opting to abstain.
The decision comes after two days of testimony, in which both Gamrat and Courser begged for forgiveness and censure — in essense, a pardon on their political lives.
Courser told reporters in Lansing that resignation is not an option for him. An attorney for Gamrat, however, said resignation is not off the table.
A pair of expulsion resolutions will now head to the House floor, where expulsion would require a two-thirds vote.
– Anthony Pollreisz/John McNeill
