Ex-Lawmaker Ordered to Trial in Fake Gay Sex Scandal

Lansing, MI — Charges were dropped against Cindy Gamrat, but her former lover, Todd Courser, will proceed to trial in the latest turn in a pair of former Michigan lawmakers accused of trying to avoid blackmail by blackmailing themselves with a fake gay sex scandal, according to media reports.

Earlier this year, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed felony charges against the two, alleging they engaged a pattern of corrupt conduct while holding state office, including both lying to the House Business Office during its investigation, and Courser for lying during testimony before the House Select Committee, while under oath, about directing staff to forge his signature on proposed legislation. 

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The two freshman Tea Party Republicans were ousted in the marathon expulsion hearings last September after the bizarre cover-up was exposed.

Courser, of the Lapeer area, faced more serious charges as the mastermind of the blackmail scheme:

• One count of perjury, for lying under oath while testifying before a special House committee about letting an aide forge his signature

• Three counts of misconduct in office for allegedly lying to the House Business Office during its investigation; for asking his staff to forge his signature on state documents; and for asking his former aide, Ben Graham, to send the phony email to Republican lawmakers to deflect attention away from the real affair with Gamrat.

In his ruling, Clarke tossed two of the misconduct in office charges, but bound him over for trial on one other and the perjury charge, MLive.com reported.

Take A Look Back

• 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
• Courser Pleads for His Job, Says His ‘Heart Is Sincere’: Watch the Hearing
• Republican-Controlled House Can’t Muster Enough Votes to Oust Courser and Gamrat
• Michigan Lawmakers Ousted in Bizarre Sex Scandal
• Disgraced Lawmaker Cindy Gamrat Files Papers to Replace Herself
• Both of Michigan’s Tea Party Trysters Want Their Jobs Back
• Courser, Gamrat Named in Whistleblower Lawsuit by Ex-Aides
• Election: Michigan’s Tea Party Trysters Soundly Defeated
• ‘20/20’ to Feature Michigan’s Tea Party Trysters
• Lawmakers Caught in Tryst Face Felony Charges
• Lawmakers Caught in Tryst Dismiss Charges as Politics
• Ex-MI Lawmakers Courser, Gamrat Claim False Imprisonment