Former Mich. legislators appear in court

Courser sent the email, which called Gamrat “a tramp, a lie and a laugh”, to hundreds of Republicans on his email list, setting off what has become one of the most freakish chapters in Lansing’s political history.

Gamrat, from Allegan County and formerly of Huntington, Indiana, was expelled by the House in September. Ex-representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat could go to prison if they’re convicted. Gamrat has agreed to turn herself into authorities and will be arraigned late Monday morning in Ingham County District Court.

Gamrat pleaded not-guilty to the charges and was given a $5,000 personal bond.

Schuette says the charges allege that both Courser and Gamrat “engaged in a pattern of corrupt conduct while holding state office, including both lying to the House Business Office during its investigation and Courser lying during testimony before the House Select Committee, while under oath, about directing staff to forge his signature on proposed legislation”.

“Todd Courser will continue to defend himself against these baseless and unconstitutional charges”, said Matt DePerno, a Portage attorney representing Courser said Saturday.

Following the arraignments, Courser spoke with media in the lobby of the courthouse building, which also houses Lansing City Hall.

Schuette announced the charges against the former Tea Party Republican legislators Friday after a months-long investigation by his office and the Michigan State Police.

Courser’s charges are detailed in the below text.

Courser and Gamrat were forced out of office a year ago in the wake of a messy sex-and-cover-up scandal. He has said that he only resorted to the fake gay emails after receiving anonymous allegedly threatening messages asking him to resign from someone who was later determined to be Gamrat’s husband, according to the paper.