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)