Courser Pleads for His Job, Says His 'Heart Is Sincere': Watch the Hearing

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Rep. Todd Courser told a House special committee Wednesday that he “wanted to die” when details surfaced of his affair with Rep. Cindy Gamrat and his attempt to cover it up with a phony gay sex email.

Courser, who asked for censure when the committee resumed hearings Wednesday, apologized and said his “heart is sincere.” He said he’s still trying to decide whether he should remain in office or resign, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The Lapeer Republican told the committee that he didn’t recognize himself in audio recordings secretly made by staff members after tried to orchestrate the cover-up scheme.

As Gamrat, R-Plainwell, did on Tuesday, Courser admitted to misusing taxpayer resources and misconduct in office and asked for censure rather than expulsion. Both are options before the special committee, which is reviewing an 833-page report of the affair and coverup completed by the House Business Office.

On Tuesday, Brock Swartzie, the chief lawyer for the Michigan House, recommended censure for Gamrat, but expulsion for Courser. Gamrat’s censure should come with strong sanctions, including the loss of committee assignments, staff and expense reimbursement, Swartzie said.

Gamrat’s role in the coverup was akin to that of an “accomplice,” but as its architect, Courser “failed in a miserable and spectacular fashion,” Swartzie said.

Courser’s attempt to cover up the affair with a profanity-laced email claiming he had been caught having sex with a male prostitute behind a Lansing nightclub was “quite possibly the most bizarre attempt at misdirection seen in the history of this Legislature,” Swartzie said.

On Wednesday, committee chairman state Rep. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, said Courser hasn’t given lawmakers any reason to believe him.

“I appreciate that you’re trying to apologize and you tell us you’re being honest now,” McBroom said. “But why now? We’ve seen a long pattern that even predates the recordings of dishonesty, and it’s hard for me to accept that now is suddenly the moment that I can believe this is not another misdirection.”

Catch Up on This Story:

• State Rep Wanted to Cover Up Affair With Fake Gay Sex Scandal
• Rep. Courser’s Brother Posts Alleged Blackmail Texts Online
• Not My Finest Moment’ – State Rep Apologizes for Fake Sex Scandal Scheme
• Legislators Not Quitting, Ex-Aide Shares Steamy Details of Affair
• Lawmakers OK Inquiry into House Sex Scandal and Cover-Up
• Select Committee to Decide Fate of Lawmakers in Sex Scandal: Read the Report
• Watch Sex Scandal Hearings Live: Gamrat Expected to Admit Guilt to Keep Job

Among the options before the committee, introduced by McBroom in a set of resolutions, are censure for both lawmakers and expulsion for both. The committee could vote on the resolutions Thursday, then move them to the full House of Representatives, which also could vote Thursday.

McBroom said he’s unconvinced by Swartzie’s recommendation that Gamrat be censured.

“I would still argue that the evidence before us still has her crossing a bar; a threshold that still has me leaning toward expulsion of both members,” he said.

The committee hearings resume at 9:30 a.m. Thursday and are available for public viewing at the House website at http://house.michigan.gov/htv.asp.