House lawyer urges 1 expulsion, 1 censure in affair cover-up

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By DAVID EGGERT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The top lawyer for the Michigan House recommended Tuesday that one state lawmaker be expelled and another censured for misconduct stemming from an attempt to hide their extramarital affair.

Brock Swartzle, general counsel for the Republican-led chamber and chief of staff to the speaker, said GOP Rep. Todd Courser of Lapeer should be kicked out in part because he has shown "little true remorse," instead writing "mini-manifestos" on social media to deflect blame.

He said a censure would be appropriate for Republican Rep. Cindy Gamrat of Plainwell, whom he described as contrite and more of an accomplice in the "bizarre" cover-up attempt.

"Under any standard of appropriate behavior, Rep. Courser has failed in miserable and spectacular fashion," Swartzle told a special six-member House committee considering discipline.

FULL story at link.


State Rep. Cindy Gamrat, R-Plainwell, tears-up as she reads one of two apologies at a legislative hearing in the House Appropriations committee room, Tuesday, Sept 8, 2015, in Lansing, Mich. The top lawyer for the Michigan House recommended Tuesday, that Rep. Todd Courser be expelled and Gamrat censured for misconduct stemming from an attempt to hide their extramarital affair. (Dale G. Young/Detroit News via AP) DETROIT FREE PRESS OUT; HUFFINGTON POST OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f0f0d140e1824446a812508165bfc4be/house-lawyer-urges-1-expulsion-1-censure-affair-cover

[left-of-center2012]

1. As I recall from previous posts

These adulterers proposed a state bill on the sanctity of marriage.

[graegoyle]

2. Do state officials get benefits after leaving office?

Are those benefits forfeit if they are censured or expelled or do not complete their term?

[Demeter]

3. I'd expel them both

Remorse is not a sufficient reason for keeping an idiot in office.

[RBInMaine]

4. It's like Frank Burns and Hot Lips Houlihan. Pure right wing hypocrites.

[Ford_Prefect]

5. Expel both along with the rest of their sanctimonious ilk.

[Blue_Adept]

6. Surprising

I'd expected that she'd get the expulsion recommendation (her feminine wiles caused him to be weak!) and him to be censured.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. Maybe the punishment fits the attitude ...

She was tearful, he smirked.

Plus, his attempt to use his staff to create a coverup or diversion may have influenced the recommendations.

[Blue_Adept]

8. Oh I agree

But her being expelled feels more Republican than him being expelled.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. Quite right. As a woman ...

... she should have all the propriety, the self-control, the societal brakes. Instead, she obviously used her feminine wiles and pheromones to lure the poor guy to his doom, like the sirens of titan.

Or, it's a slow week in Michigan politics. No poor to punish, no abortion-seekers to vilify, no unions to bust.