West MI Blogger Who Took Down 2 State Reps Found Guilty Faces 5 Years In Prison

Brandon Hall turned blogger, turned politico, turned blogger

Brandon Hall

was found guilty today of election fraud stemming from a case in 2012.

Hall's claim to fame occurred in 2015 when he broke the story of the affair between former State Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat.

The Michigan Supreme Courthas reinstated felony election-fraud charges against Brandon Michael Hall, who decided to run as a Republican candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives in northern Ottawa County this past year.

The state's high court unanimously reversed the Michigan Court of Appeals and said Hall was properly charged with felony forgery. The Michigan Attorney General's Office is prosecuting Hall for allegedly forging signatures on nominating petitions he circulated for a judicial candidate in 2012.

Hall, 26, of Grand Haven, a conservative political blogger with West Michigan Politics, former candidate for state House, former Grand Haven school board member and convicted thief, faced 10 counts of forgery. That's a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Hall was charged with 10 counts of election law forgery after the jury took less than an hour to come back with the guilty verdict against Brandon Hall Wednesday afternoon in Ottawa County Circuit Court.

Cover Up On The Investigation Of Courser & Gamrat?

Two former Michigan Republican state representatives Todd Courser

Courser & Gamrat

and Cindy Gamrat have returned to their private lives after a sex scandal and bizzare cover-up and voters declined to return them to office in November in their comeback bids.

However bills associated with one of the state’s most unusual sex scandals are adding up. The House of Representatives Business Office had paid $80,177 to the Dickinson Wright Law Firm in Lansing for investigative reports into actions that led to Courser’s 3 am morning resignation and Gamrat’s expulsion on Sept. 11.

The bill to the Dickinson Wright firm also includes legal fees to defend lawsuits filed by former House staffers Ben Graham and Keith Allard, who were fired by Courser and Gamrat in July before the sex scandal and fake gay sex cover up broke, the Detroit Free Press reports.

December bills, including the costs associated with a whistleblower lawsuit filed against the House of Representatives by Graham and Allard last fall, have not yet been received.

Graham and Allard were fired on July 6 without explanation, they said because they had reported ethical and campaign finance violations by Courser and Gamrat to House Speaker Kevin Cotter’s office.

Progress Michigan, which received the legal bills under the Freedom of Information Act, said "the use of an outside law firm was an inappropriate use of public funds".

Lonnie Scott, the group’s executive director, told the Free Press that Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, “bungled” the investigation into the lawmakers’ conduct and “should use his taxpayer-funded attorney to defend the House and pay for any outside counsel himself.”

Kevin Cotter

Gideon D’Assandro, a spokesman for Cotter, said the issues surrounding the removal of the lawmakers were constitutionally complicated and the House would have had to hire extra lawyers or pay for the state attorney general’s office to do the work.

“The Speaker would rather be deliberative and do it right,” D’Assandro told the Free Press.

Lone Democrat Vote On Road Tax Increase On Trial For Attempted Murder

Way before the Todd Courser - Cindy Gamrat scandal broke in August of this year,

the top news story was that of Democrat Senator Virgil Smith.  

On May 10th of this year Virgil Smith got into a heated argument  with his ex-wife and shot at her.  

Virgil was arrested and is on trial for attempted murder, yet he still sits as a Senator in Lansing collecting a taxpayer paycheck.  

The shooting case does not look good for Virgil Smith as it appears undeniable that he shot at his ex-wife.  The case seems so open and shut, that according to news reports, Virgil Smith may claim insanity.

So we have either a Senator that tried to kill his wife as a sane person or as an insane person.  If he is insane does his votes hold legal merit?

What is even stranger is that his state office website has also been down since the shooting took place in early May but he is somehow still voting on key issues such as the road tax. 

The funny thing is Virgil Smith has been voting straight along with the Republicans, who hold the majority in the Senate.  Why hasn't Republican Senate Majority Leader Arlene Meekhof moved to expel Democrat Virgil Smith?  Has some sort of back scratching deals been put into place?  The votes seem to make it look so.

Rumor was Virgil Smith would get special treatment and perhaps he is.

Former Staffers Sue Gamrat And Courser - Case Appears Frivolous - Taxpayers On Hook?

In a case that is sure to waste more taxpayer funds, former

aides Keith Allard and Ben Graham are suing former Michigan State Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat in Ingham County Circuit Court.  The two are seeking whistle-blower protection for reporting hostile behavior to House of Representatives staff before Courser and Gamrat fired them July 6 without explanation. They claim the firing was retaliation for reporting

Keith Allard and Ben Graham

ethical and campaign finance violations by their bosses to House Speaker Kevin Cotter’s office.

The fact is though many legal experts say they do not qualify for whistle blower protection. In addition both Allard and Graham were at-will employees.

Michigan is an “at-will” employment state. This means that absent an employment contract, both the employer and employee are free to terminate the employment at any given time, and for any legitimate purpose. Hence, it may be difficult to file a wrongful termination or wrongful discharge claim if your employment is considered to be at-will.

All Michigan House of Representatives employees have a non-tenured, "at will" employment status. It is the policy of the House of Representatives to employ, by the Constitution and applicable federal or state statutes, qualified individuals without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, height, weight or any other categories or groups protected by law.

Former State Representative Todd Courser stated that he fired Allard and Graham because their job 
performance was not up to his expectations. This reason alone would qualify as a legitimate firing under at-will.

The one important fact that Allard and Graham are also forgetting is that they would be out of a job now anyways since Gamrat was expelled and Courser resigned. 

More State Reps Caught In The Affair Act This Time In Minnesota

Minnesota has its own version of  Michigan's Todd Courser

and Cindy Gamrat, they are Tim Kelly and Tara Mack.

A newly released police report and Sheriff’s email is shedding more light on what may have transpired during a park rendezvous between Minnesota State Representatives Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing) and Tara Mack (R-Apple Valley).

According to the police report, written by Dakota County Park Ranger Jordan Moses, he was on routine patrol August 25 through the Lebanon Hills Visitors Center in Apple Valley, and noticed two cars parked remotely in the north parking lot.  Young children were playing in the south parking lot.

“When I was roughly 20 yards away,” Ranger Moses writes, “I noticed both parties were leaned in towards the center of the car engaging in intimate behavior.”

When the trooper was approximately four feet away from the car he asked them what they were doing there. “Nothing, is there a problem?” Kelly responded.

The trooper writes that Mack’s pants and belt were pulled down to mid-thigh, and she was wearing blue/teal underwear.  Ranger Moses writes that he asked, “Why the female’s pants were pulled down. They both gave no response to the question and the female tried to cover herself up by repositioning in her seat and folding her hands above the exposed area.”

When Mack returned to her car to get her drivers license, “She stepped out of the car and pulled her pants up as she walked towards (the car).  As she was walking, I could distinctly hear the sound of her belt as she fastened it back into place,” Ranger Moses writes.

The trooper writes he told them they were committing an act that constitutes a nuisance and issued them both citations.

Soon after the incident, Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie writes in an email that he called Rep. Mack as a professional courtesy.  He said he was sorry it happened, and explained she can pay a fine or dispute the charge.

“She said she was glad the deputy came along to save her from an uncomfortable situation,” Sheriff Leslie writes.  “She referred to it as divine intervention. She said she was grateful.”

But Sheriff Leslie writes, she called back and had “changed her tune,” after hearing there were written details regarding the citation.  Sheriff Leslie informed her that in essence the report said she was in a car with her pants down and unzipped.

“She did not comment other than to say this is very salacious and she is married to a minister and her career could be ruined,” Sheriff Leslie writes.

Sheriff Leslie said he responded, “I said I understood that but if you are choosing to say that the park ranger lied or is not telling the truth than I have a big problem.”

Sheriff Leslie writes that Mack then asked if the ranger was wearing a body camera.  “I said no,” Sheriff Leslie writes.  “His word against yours.”

Mack said the ranger told them to “get a hotel.”

When the incident was disclosed last week by the Pioneer Press, Mack and Kelly insisted they were simply exchanging documents in the park, strongly denying any romantic encounter. They accused the ranger of lying in his report and said they would file a complaint with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.  Days later, citing family concerns, they said they would not fight the citation and pay the nuisance fines.

Gamrat Expelled - Courser Avoids Historical Shame By Resigning

State Representative Todd Courser resigned early Friday

Courser /Gamrat

morning rather than be expelled by his colleagues.

Republican Rep. Todd Courser announced his resignation, effective immediately, and was escorted out of the chamber. His decision came amid a marathon overnight session in the House over whether he and Rep. Cindy Gamrat should stay in their jobs.

Courser yesterday tried to save his position with a rambling speech to the Michigan State House and then tried to act as preacher again before being shut down by the House Leadership as Courser was asked to keep comments to the resolution.   For the record Courser is an attorney, not a preacher and pretending to be one after the lies and scandal he was involved in, it probably wasn’t the smartest move on his part.

"I just felt like it was the appropriate moment to do it," Courser told reporters after he resigned at 3:30 in the morning. "I put everybody through a whole bunch — across the state, my own family, the constituents, the people in this room. ... Whether it was the third vote or the fourth vote or the fifth vote, they were going to eventually get me."

Representative Gamrat was expelled after a 3:30 am vote.  Republican House Speaker Kevin Cotter kept all locked in house chambers until a vote was completed.  A first vote was done at 9pm on Thursday Sept 10 and there was not enough votes to expel either one of them.   A re-vote was ordered until the vote Cotter and the Republicans got the vote that they wanted.

Gamrat said she plea bargained with the committee and was promised that if she testified against herself, she would receive censure only. However the investigative committee is denying that fact.  Her attorney has shown a copy of the plea agreement to WXYZ Channel  7 in Detroit.  Will she fight further on her being expelled?

Democrats have called the investigation a sham, called it rushed and self-serving, and they questioned why two "whistleblower" aides to Courser and Gamrat were allowed to be fired by GOP leadership, since the speaker's office knew of problems in the lawmakers' combined office. They said the matter should be looked into by law enforcement and the former aides subpoenaed to testify to lawmakers.

Many have also questioned as to the timing of this expulsion.  With every vote needed to raise the gas tax, Courser and Gamrat were solid no votes.   Senator Patrick Colbeck previously stated that this gas tax increase was to cover the medicaid expansion under Obamacare and not really there to fix the roads.   There is also the question of the Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof and major Republican Political Donor  Ron Boji's new Senate building deal which has all real estate experts scratching their heads as to why the building was purchased well beyond the actual market value.

Unfortunately the master manipulator, who invokes God and Jesus just about every time he opens his mouth, fooled many with his preacher like ways, is the one that is getting away with this basically unscathed in a historical aspect.  For he will not go down in history as being expelled but as resigning.  Others have resigned their posts for various reasons, most recently State Rep Tim Melton of Auburn Hills.   Tim Melton resigned to take a private sector job in California.  

Not Enough Votes To Expel Gamrat Courser - Is Republican Leadership Renigging On A Gamrat Plea Deal

Could the Courser Gamrat soap opera is coming to an

Cindy Gamrat Testifying

end and not the way Michigan House Republicans wanted?    The Republican leadership wasn’t able to get the two-thirds House majority vote to expel State Reps Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat.

After a 67-14 vote, with 26 Democrats refusing to vote and two Democrats absent, Republicans called for a reconsideration of the vote and the board was still open as of 9 p.m.

Cindy Gamrat said she worked out a deal that if she admitted wrong doing- which she did- that she would face censure not expulsion.    Republican Speaker of the house Kevin Cotter is saying no deal was made.  House Democrats do not believe  Kevin Cotter and Cindy Gamrat’s attorney has given WXYZ 7 in Detroit a copy of the agreement. 

Breaking: MI State House Panel Recommends Expulsion For Gamrat & Courser

The State House committee voted Thursday to recommend

expulsion for two Michigan lawmakers who have admitted to misconduct in covering up their extramarital affair.

Republicans Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat have apologized and asked the six-member committee for a censure and to keep their jobs in a restricted role.

The committee's vote was 4-0 (2 passes).

Rep. Ed McBroom, Committee chairman  said it was "heartbreaking thing," but salso aid neither Courser nor Gamrat had convinced him they could regain the trust of the public and their fellow lawmakers.

Rep Ed McBroom then continued and said."This episode must be put behind us,"

In Michigan’s history only three legislators have been expelled.  This number almost doubles if Courser and Gamrat are expelled.

One though wonders why this much effort has not been put into the expulsion of the "Shooting Senator" Virgil Smith who has admitted shooting his gun at a person that could have caused grave bodily harm?  Could it be his vote is needed to vote with the Republican Tax and Spend Establishment that wants to raise our gas tax and which Senator Pat Colbeck said is actually to fund the medicaid expansion?

Breaking: Not Enough Votes To Expel Todd Courser And Cindy Gamrat

Cindy Gamrat / Todd Courser

Sources are stating that Speaker of The House, Republican Kevin Cotter does not have the votes to expel Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat.

The Democrats under Minority House Leader Tim Greimel want an independent investigation.  They want to know why

Tim Greimel

Cotter did not bring the alleged affair and cover up to the attention of the House back in May when it was first reported according to Courser/Gamrat Staffer Josh Cline.

The Democrats are wondering if the Republican Leadership intentionally held this information at hand until it best benefited them.  Was Todd Courser's request to Attorney General Bill Schuette asking him to investigate the questionable Arlen Meekhof - Ron Boji new senate building purchase the reason why this information was now released?

Sex, Lies, Texts and Misuse Of Public Funds - These Are The Days of Our Lansing Legislators

The preliminary findings from a House Business Office probe

Todd Courser / Cindy Gamrat

have come in this afternoon.  The preliminary report states that Michigan state Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat did misuse  taxpayer funds to attempt to cover up their extra-marital affair.

Addressing the media this afternoon, Director Tim Bolin said, "After completing the investigation, we have preliminary findings of both misconduct and the misuse of taxpayer resources by both representatives."

Bolin continued, "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.   The findings will be made public once the legal review has been completed."

A little over two weeks ago Courser and Gamrat were exposed for having an extra-marital affair.  A recording leaked to the Detroit News and released by the paper opened up the investigation.

The preliminary finding of the misuse of taxpayer funds comes from Todd Courser asking his staff to send out a false flag e-mail stating he was into male prostitutes and was a sexual deviant picking up these prostitutes all over Lansing.  This e-mail was an attempt to cover up his affair with Gamrat.  

Courser said he came up with the idea after receiving blackmail texts.  His brother Dan has also reported receiving texts as Courser didn't respond to his.  A private investigator has been hired to track down the texter and the results of these findings should be released sometime this week. 

Courser believes that his affair, which was known by Speaker of the House Kevin Cotter since May, came out now as Courser is going after the Senate Majority Leader Arlen Meekhof - Ron Boji Senate Building deal and has asked Attorney General Bill Schuette to investigate a potential "friends and family cronyism deal" that could cost Michigan taxpayers $70 million or more.

According to whistleblower and former staffer Josh Cline, he told Cotter of the affair back in May and it fell on deaf ears.  Cline said he had to resign because of the affair and that his integrity was of utmost importance, in his televised media press conference last Monday.  Just a day later in West Michigan Politics, Brandon Hall reported that Josh Cline had an Ashley Madison spouse cheating site himself.  Which added more fuel to the speculation that Courser and Gamrat where under the microscope because they wouldn't play ball with the "Lansing Mafia" as Courser described.

This story is far from over as more twists and turns are surely going to come out in the next days and weeks.

Courser - Gamrat Affair Whistleblower Sought Extra-Marital Affair Himself

If you are going to throw stones at one who has sinned, you

Josh Cline Press Conference

better be sure you have not committed the same sin yourself.

Normally affairs themselves are not newsworthy but when you set a high standard and feel you are step above the next person that is one you find yourself in trouble . 

According to a report by Brandon Hall of  West Michigan Politics, Josh Cline who was a former aide to state representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, is among the millions of users whose information was released this week by hackers of the cheating website Ashley Madison.  It should be noted that West Michigan Politics was the outlet that first broke the Courser Gamrat affair as well.

The Ashley Madison website is a place for those currently married to seek an extra-marital affair. 

West Michigan Politics went over hacked data from Ashley Madison, which apparently indicates that an address in Attica, Michigan has been a subscriber of the website for at least three years. Going over Lapeer County records, it was discovered that the address is registered to Cline, who is married.

The discovery of Cline possibly now having had an affair himself with his three year subscription through the cheating website casts doubt on the sincerity of his press conference this past Monday.    

In that press conference, which many said looked more like a

"Hi Mom I am on TV" moment as it lacked any new substance as well as appearing scripted and contrived, Cline made a powerful statement on why he quit his staffer position at the Courser - Gamrat legislative offices.  He said "It was not an easy task to choose integrity over a paycheck. But I chose to preserve my integrity and resign effective immediately," He continued. "Having chosen integrity over continued employment in a hostile, untenable work environment in which I was required to turn a blind eye to unethical behavior in the offices of Courser and Gamrat, I am confident I did the right thing."  With the discovery of Cline's Ashley Madison account, Cline's integrity seems to be thrown out like yesterday's trash. 

It was odd that Josh Cline was even a staffer for Todd Courser. Cline himself is a long time political operative for the Republican party, often was found associating with those that were either establishment or anti-tea party.  Cline most recently attempted to run for State School Board in 2014 and in 2012 was involved in the Pete Hoekstra for campaign.  (hat tip to Bill Hartmann of the 12th District for that reminder)

Courser Gamrat Affair Known For Months - Announced Now To Hide Bad Perhaps Illegal Land Deal

This morning radio hosts Trucker Randy Bishop and Brian

Trucker Randy Bishop & Brian Summerfield
Your Defending Fathers Radio Show

Sommerfield on Your Defending Father's Radio on 94.5 fm in Petoskey Michigan stated that timing of the State Representative Cindy Gamrat and State Representative Todd Courser affair was to deflect and stop an investigation of the unnecessary purchase of the new Senate Building which was purchased 3 times over the market value.  The building was assessed to be valued at $12 Million but yet the state is purchasing it for over $41 million.

The move, proposed last year by then Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe), would move senators into renovated office space while other state departments are being told to brace for cuts.

"You can question motives and you can question everything," Richardville told Channel 7's Ross Jones in November, "but this is a damn good business decision."

Richardville left the Michigan Senate at the end of last year

Ron Boji

due to term-limits, but not before choosing a proposal submitted by Lansing developer Ron Boji as the senate's future home. The state has agreed to purchase his building, called Capitol View, for $41 million and is seeking $70 million in state bonds to finance the deal, but now some accounts are saying the final cost to the taxpayers of Michigan could reach $140 million.  According to the Lansing Assessor's Office the building is only worth $12 million and the Assessor's office has publically stated that the overpriced purchase will not  inflate the property values in and around the area.  

In order to pay for the new senate building it will need to be OKed and financed through bonds from the state through the Michigan Strategic Fund.  Ron Boji was appointed by Snyder to be on that board.  How is this not a conflict of interest?

What was the reason for the need to purchase the new building?  "The main reason given for seeking the new digs, according to testimony by Senate Secretary Carol Vivendi last year, is so every senator’s office would enjoy a clear view of the state capitol."

 A major campaign donor of the Republican Party stands to profit handsomely from this move. Who is that donor? Ron Boji, a big donor to state Republican politicians who was also appointed by Governor Snyder to serve on the Michigan Strategic Fund.

Over the past 7 years, Boji alone has contributed almost $80,000 to the Republican state senate campaign committee, the Michigan Republican Party, and the election efforts of Snyder as reported on the Frank Beckmann Show on WJR 760am in Detroit. 

Ron Boji far left, 8th Dist Congresman Mike Bishop (R)
12th Dist Congresswoman Debbie Dingell,
11th District Congrssman Dave Trott and State Representative Clint Kesto

Funneling taxpayer dollars to a wealthy campaign contributor is a classic example of corporate welfare and crony capitalism. This happens all too often in Lansing. Our Senators are attempting to reward a campaign contributor while bilking taxpayers out of $70 million in order to move to an office building that is 50 yards closer to the Capitol Building.  

In late June of this year, embattled State Representative Todd Courser drafted a letter asking Attorney General Bill Schuette to investigate the purchase of the new Ron Boji Senate Building.    According to Randy Bishop and Brain Summerfield of your Defending Fathers Radio, Courser said the letter was never forwarded to Bill Schuette.  Was this the reason why Courser and Gamrat's staff were fired?  Why didn't they complete the letter but instead release the recording of Todd Courser admitting to a false flag e-mail to hide his affair with Gamrat instead? 

According to information Randy Bishop and Brian Summerfield compiled, they surmised that most in Lansing, including State House Speaker Kevin Cotter, knew of the Courser Gamrat affair months prior to the the Detroit News story last week.  Why then didn't this information come out sooner?  Was it because Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat were to release a letter  to the Attorney General Bill Schuette this week asking him to open an investigation into the purchase of the new senate building?    

It also appears that the questionable senate building deal in Lansing wasn't the first time Ron Boji's company made millions off the state with a real estate deal.   


 Ron Boji's brother Nader Kakhouri, who is under investigation with the Feds in his position with the former Wayne County Executive Bob Ficano, who is also under investigation.

Ron Boji and his family have been some of Robert Ficano's most reliable campaign contributors.  Not long ago, Boji held a birthday party fundraiser for Ficano at his sprawling Orchard Lake home.

Ron Boji (right)  Bob Ficano (left)
Ribbon cutting ceremony for new government office in
Hamtramack that Boji's firm built.

Boji's name surfaced in the widening Wayne County scandal back in October of 2011, when the FBI named his company, The Boji Group, in a federal subpoena.  At issue: did his relationship with Ficano's office help land his company federal money for a big development in Wayne County? And did Fakhouri stand to benefit from the deal?

Boji used that federal money to build the Inkster Marketplace, a sprawling two-block, four-building development that couldn't have materialized had it not been for federal funds provided by Wayne County.  It passed along government grants totaling almost $2 million that ultimately went to Boji's company. And the county official who handed over the money?  Fmr. Economic Development Chief Turkia Mullin.

Ron Boji’s company benefited from more than $1.5 million in federal funds to develop the sprawling Inkster Marketplace along Michigan Avenue.

In a December letter, HUD officials asked the county to return $850,000 in grant money because of Boji’s strong ties to then Assistant County CEO

Nader Fakhouri With Bob Ficano

Nader Fakhouri.

Fakhouri, who is Boji’s brother-in-law, received a 20% stake in the building Boji was paid to construct. The Wayne County Commission, which had to sign off on the project, didn’t know about Fakhouri’s stake in the building either.

“We’ve never received any paperwork that shows Nader Fakhouri had an interest in this,” Commissioner Kevin McNamara said.

“It would have raised a huge red flag.”

HUD issued their own red flag, deeming it a “conflict of interest” and saying Fakhouri was “…in a position to potentially influence funding…” that went to him and his family.  

Because of these findings the people of the State Of Michigan deserve a full and fair investigation of where their

Todd Courser / Cindy Gamrat

tax dollars are going.  Are political cronies being paid back for their donations both in positions of appointed power and financial kickbacks?  Although Courser's and Gamrat's behavior was unbecoming to say the least of a State Representative, it is important that the investigation request Course and Gamrat were preparing moves forward. 


 The letter Courser drafted needs to be  signed by every state representative in Michigan and given to the Attorney General Bill Schuette this week.    Will other conservative Representatives such as Lee Chatfield, Gary Glenn and Martin Howrylak take up the cause?  What about your State Rep?  If they refuse to request an investigation in the the Senate Building and the conflicts of interests, then they are also part of the problem.

State Representative Cindy Garmat Breaks Her Silence And Speaks To Media About Scandal With Todd Courser

Rep. Cindy Gamrat broke her week-long silence regarding an

alleged affair and cover-up with fellow Rep. Todd Courser, addressing the media during a 2 p.m. news conference today.

Gamrat spoke at the office of an attorney she hired this week: Andrew Abood of the Abood Law Firm.

The primary reason for her press conference she said was to apologize to her constituents and those across Michigan. 

Cindy Gamrat changed direction and took questions from the media which she wasn't expected to do.  She had two former supporters that served in the armed services in combat.  She stated that if these two guys can look down the barrel of a gun, then it is really nothing to speak with you (the media).  

Gamrat stated she does not intend to resign at this time.

She believes an investigation will show that she did not break any laws.

She was unaware of the bizarre e-mail from fellow State Representative Todd Courser whom she has been reported to have a sexual extra-marital affair with. 

Gamrat stood by her husband and thanked him for standing by her.

They are seeking marriage counseling.

Gamrat also stated no staff were fired to cover up their affair.  She named Keith Allard when asked by a reporter and stated he did not do his job properly.  Allard was a previous staffer for Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm.

When asked if she would be resigning she said that is not what she was here today for.  She was here to apologize but for the time being she thinks staying on as a State Representative for the 80th District is the right choice.  She is not ruling our resigning at a later date.

She did state that her and Todd Courser's offices have separated and that they will be working professionally but independently.

Michigan State Rep Todd Courser's Brother Dan Courser Says He Got Blackmailer's Text Too

This case of State Representative Todd Courser's scandal

Dan Courser

widens as his brother Dan Courser chimes in and say that he too received texts from the blackmailer.   If true how did this person get Dan Courser's telephone number?

Several people have commented that they think the account of the blackmailer is a fabricated story. This simply is not the case. I also received blackmail texts from this mysterious number urging me first to convince Todd to converse with the blackmailer and later tried to convince me to urge Todd to resign from his position or else he/she would bring out destructive info. about Todd.

Below are snapshots of the texts from my droid x2 and the last one after I changed phones to my iphone 4s.  - Dan Courser

Embattled Michigan Rep Todd Courser Releases Texts From Supposed Blackmailer

Yesterday the bizarre political soap opera surrounding Todd

Todd Courser /  Cindy Gamrat

Courser and his alleged affair with fellow State Representative Cindy Gamrat got even stranger.  Todd Courser stated that he was being blackmailed about his relationship with Gamrat and yesterday he released texts and named names.

Todd Courser, named Flushing Michigan political consultant David Forsmark as one of his blackmailers. 

 David Forsmark, owner of Winning Strategies a political consulting firm and writer for PJ Media and The Atheist Conservative, denies contacting Todd Courser and states doesn't even have his phone number.  Winning Strategies has been in existence since 1991 according to Manta and has helped hundreds of political candidates on both sides of the isle. 

David Forsmark's bio on his business website reads: "For 20 years before that, he wrote book, movie and concert reviews as a stringer for the Flint Journal, a midsize daily newspaper. David was also the popular culture critic for Credo, a weekly newspaper "for Catholic and other Christians" where he became possibly the first Baptist to win 2 Catholic press awards."

His work has also appeared in National Review Online, St. Austin Review and other publications

  

David Forsmark

Even if Courser was being blackmailed he should have come clean and allowed authorities to investigate.  Courser should have known he was not above the law, especially as an attorney.  Couser has stated he has contacted authorities yet the State Police have no record.  The Attorney General's office is remaining quiet on the issue.

Here is the press release Courser posted on his Facebook Wall for the media to pick up  and  the screen shots of the alleged blackmailer:

Representative Todd Courser today has released blackmail text messages he received since May showing that he was subject to threats and cyber-spying.The texts show Courser was told to resign his office or else information about his personal indiscretions would be released. Courser said he has been in contact with authorities over a period of time and is urging that the proper authorities investigate the matter.

He said he will be exonerated on claims that he used state resources and staff improperly. Rather, Courser said the actions that he took regarding his staff was meant to try and pin down exactly who is blackmailer was. "These texts from the blackmailer show a lot. They are very intimate. They were freakishly stalking. It was in this environment that I was acting to find out who was involved in the blackmailing," Courser said.

"They involved access to conversations, texts, locations, and family info including private cell data. It was constant surveillance from January forward." Based on select information he released and who he release that information to, he has concluded that his former staff worked with political consultant David Forsmark to concoct a plot to remove him from office.

Only Josh Cline, Ben Graham and Keith Allard had the access to the information he was confronted with by his blackmailer. Courser said the blackmailer told him he was meeting with the Speakers office on August 3, which goes to his suspicions that the Speaker was somehow involved in a plot to remove him. "I'm Not sure how forth coming the Speakers office is with their appointments, but if they are indeed investigating I am not sure they can investigate themselves and their role in this," he said. "How involved were they? What did they know? When did they know it? "I welcome an investigation into the allegations against me; and into my claim that there is a blackmailing effort that is ongoing and attempting me to resign; if there was any misuse of state resources then there should be consequences; I am confident with full and forthright investigation that I will be fully exonerated and that no state resources were ever used inappropriately. I asked Mr. Graham to assist on his own time and he declined." 

Courser acknowledges the May 20 email he sent was a low point in his life and "inexcusable." It was the product of an immense amount of stress about his personal safety and that of his family combined with a lack of food and sleep. Blackmailer urges Courser to resign or information about his personal indiscretions would be released. "In no way could I ever submit to that sort of pressure and so I simply refused and instead set out to do what I could to expose the person or persons involved," he said.Courser said he did not engage with the blackmailer, who also was contacting Representative Gamrat and other contacts of Courser and Gamrat, including financial supporters.