Report finds misuse of taxpayer money by Courser and Gamrat

The Business Office for the Michigan House of Representatives has found both misconduct and misuse of taxpayer resources by state Reps.

Investigators handed over a preliminary report to House Speaker Kevin Cotter Monday. Gamrat said Monday in a statement that she hasn’t ruled out any options.

A report on the findings has been given to House Speaker Kevin Cotter. “I am directing my legal counsel to review the preliminary findings for the purposes of any further disciplinary actions”.

The House Business Office’s investigation is complete, but results won’t be available for a few days.

Courser, of Lapeer, and Gamrat, of Plainwell, both are married to other people.

“Asking an outside counsel to review the report is a normal process to protect the privacy and confidentiality of affected individuals and ensure compliance with Human Resources regulations”, Bowlin said.

A public summary of the report should be disclosed by the end of the week after an independent reviewer classifies personal information and evidence that could be compromised if revealed at this time.

Courser has admitted to distributing the fictional story on May 20 and May 21 to rank-and-file Republicans using an anonymous email address.

Gamrat and Courser have said they didn’t misuse resources and wouldn’t resign.

Those findings will also be used by a new House committee that was formed just last week to determine if the two lawmakers are fit to hold office. It could mete out discipline, including expulsion from the House of Representatives. The committee, which has not yet been appointed, will consist of four Republicans and two Democrats.

Courser is heard on audiotape describing a “false flag” e-mail stating he was involved in gay sex and drug and alcohol abuse to deflect attention from the affair.

Messages left for Courser have not been answered.

In early July, Courser and Gamrat fired Graham and Allard without explanation.

Shortly after news broke that Courser had orchestrated an ersatz smear campaign, attempting to coax staffers to lie in order to hide their affair, we wrote that if these charges were proved, both must go.

Courser told reporters last Tuesday he would issue a statement “later” in response to Barretts pursuit of a committee-level censure.