Rep. Courser's Brother Posts Alleged Blackmail Texts Online

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State Rep. Todd Courser (R-Lapeer) used texts sent to his brother from an alleged blackmailer to continue to publicly explain Thursday why he concocted a bogus sex scandal that involved false claims that the lawmaker paid for sex with a male prostitute.

»RELATED: State Rep Wanted to Cover Up Affair With Fake Gay Sex Scandal

Courser’s brother, Dan, posted on his Facebook page photos of text messages that he claimed came from an unidentified individual who was trying to blackmail the state representative concerning an extramarital affair with fellow State Rep. Cindy Gamrat (R-Plainville). Gamrat has scheduled a press conference for 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, to speak publicly for the first time about the controversy around whether she and Todd Courser used their tax-funded offices to maintain and conceal their relationship, according to a Detroit News report.

Courser has claimed that he was being blackmailed by a group of individuals who wanted him to resign as state representative. He says he came up with the over-the-top story of sex with a male prostitute behind a Lansing sex club as a way to catch the blackmailers.

As part of his posting, Dan Courser explained why he was releasing the text messages on Facebook:

“Several people have commented that they think the account of the blackmailer is a fabricated story. This simply is not the case. I also received blackmail texts from this mysterious number urging me first to convince Todd to converse with the blackmailer and later tried to convince me to urge Todd to resign from his position or else he/she would bring out destructive info. about Todd.”

Todd Courser also shared the posting and photos on his own Facebook page. The sender’s name does not appear on the texts, only a Detroit-based phone number. It’s also unclear if Dan or Todd Courser know the writer’s identity.

The texts were sent between May 21 through May 27. The writer claims to have knowledge of Todd Courser’s relationship with Gamrat and obtusely alludes to possible past relationships Courser has had with other women.

»RELATED: ‘Not My Finest Moment’—State Rep Apologizes for Fake Sex Scandal Scheme

In a May 23 group message that appears to have included Dan, Todd and Gamrat, the writer advices that if Courser steps down as a state representative and doesn’t mention Gamrat, the legislators’ illicit affair will stay a secret:

“I’m letting everyone off the hook....on 1 condition only. You resign Todd, Tuesday. Mention your health, your new found family bond. DO NOT mention Cindy, AT ALL. Call me karma....this is for the others too!”

The writer explained in a May 21 text that the reason he was contacting Dan Courser was because Todd Courser wouldn’t return his messages:

“This can be very damaging obviously. I know about the others too....I’m trying to limit the collateral damage, and frankly, need a voice of reason. Your brother won’t respond. Convince your brother to answer me.”

The writer also wrote, “No offense, Todd’s a d---,” a sentiment, according to that same text, that Dan had apparently shared in mixed company in Washington, D.C., and now was posting on Facebook for millions of people to read. That’s some ninja-level, passive-aggressivene, brother-fu.

So what are the big takeaways from these texts?

• The writer of these messages has a thorough disregard for proper grammar and punctuation that, while not criminal, should be punishable in some manner.
• Just because you think your brother’s a d---, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t help him defend himself from the fustercluck he brought down by thinking a self-generated, fake gay sex scandal was a brilliant way to draw attention away from his self-generated, real extramarital sex scandal.