Key hearing continues for two ex-Michigan lawmakers caught in sex scandal

Todd Courser, Cindy Gamrat charged with misconduct in office

LANSING, Mich. – A key hearing continues Thursday for two Michigan lawmakers who were forced from office in a sex scandal. 

The preliminary exam got underway in a Lansing courtroom will determine if there is probable cause to go to trial on charges that they committed felony misconduct in office.Todd Courser resigned last September and Cindy Gamrat became the fourth legislator to ever be expelled.

The conservative Republicans had an extramarital affair.

Courser has admitted to devising an explicit phony email that said he had been caught having sex with a male prostitute behind a Lansing nightclub. He explained that he thought his tale would make the affair less plausible if it was revealed by an anonymous extortionist who sent him and Gamrat text messages demanding that they resign.

“I felt that sending out an email like that, intentionally trying to deceive someone, was definitely unethical and quite possibly illegal,” former Courser staff member Ben Graham said.

Whistleblowers who witnessed the alleged misconduct and staffers that were asked to participate in the cover-up.

“I was concerned for my safety,” Graham said. “He (Courser) keeps a loaded gun in his desk.”

Another staffer said Courser instructed him to forge the lawmaker’s signature on legislative proposals known as “blue backs,” a violation of House rules.

Courser and Gamrat admitted to much of the misconduct before appearing before the House Investigative Committee, but now they want the testimony thrown out saying they were promised at the time that it would not be used against them in court.

Read: Courser says charges are sign of 'corrupt government'

ReadCindy Gamrat's husband was 'blackmailer'