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.

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?

Democrat Senator Virgil Smith Jr. Charged With Domestic Violence In Shooting Of Ex-Wife

Democrat State Senator Virgil Smith has now been charged with

domestic violence, felonious assault and other charges in connection with a shooting incident involving his ex-wife at his Detroit home.

Wayne County Michigan Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced the charges Tuesday.

Smith, 35, also is charged with malicious destruction of property and felony firearm.

He was arraigned Tuesday afternoon and received a $25,000 bond (10 percent). He is scheduled to be back in court May 22 for a probable cause hearing.

Worthy said Smith, who represents the fourth district, allegedly fired several shots from a rifle into his ex-wife's Mercedes around 1 a.m. Sunday outside his home on Wexford Street.

The  Michigan State Senator has been removed from committees and relieved of caucus duties.

Will Senator Virgil Smith Get Special Treatment In His Shooting Case? Past Criminal Charges Disappeared

Virgil Smith Jr.

Will Democrat State Senator Virgil Smith Jr.  get a trial that is tilted his way or will he face equal justice for domestic violence when he shot his  ex-wife's car Sunday morning?

Virgil Smith's father is a prominent Judge is a judge of the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County, Michigan. He was appointed to fill a vacancy in this court by Governor Jennifer Granholm. Smith  Sr. has served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives and as a Michigan State Senator.

Judge Virgil Smith Sr. 

Somehow in the past criminal charges were dropped on Virgil Smith Jr. when he was in college and in 2010 he somehow he was able to skate by on his 3rd DUI conviction.

The police report states Virgil Smith was naked when his ex-wife was at the front door, the senator’s ex-wife claims in a second police report, beat her with his fists, chased her outside and shot at her four or five times.

Police arrested Smith, D-Detroit, in connection with the shooting early Sunday morning outside his house in the 18000 block of Wexford on the city’s west side. Police Chief James Craig said police expect to seek charges of aggravated assault with a gun and malicious destruction of property. Craig said police are investigating the incident and will turn over their findings to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

The Prosecutor’s Office released a statement Monday saying prosecutors are “returning the matter back to the Detroit Police Department (for) further investigation.”

Democrat Senator Virgil Smith In Custody In Shooting Involving Ex-Wife

Senator Virgil Smith 

At about 1pm today Detroit police took into  custody Sen. Virgil Smith (D-Detroit) in connection with a shooting that happened at his house early Sunday morning.

Smith, a Democrat, represents parts of Detroit, Dearborn and all of Allen Park. He is chairman of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, and is currently serving a second term as a state senator for the state's 4th Senate District.

The senator is the primary suspect in a shooting and is believed to have fired a shotgun at his ex-wife's vehicle during an argument.

No one was injured.

He was given the Man of Excellence Award by the Michigan Chronicle last year, the site states, and was named Legislator of the Year by the Michigan Bankers Association in 2014.