Probe: Michigan lawmakers engaged in dishonest cover-up
Source: AP
By DAVID EGGERT
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Two Michigan lawmakers who had an extramarital affair engaged in numerous instances of deceptive and "outright dishonest" misconduct in an attempted cover-up, in which public resources were misused and constituents were treated with a lack of respect, an investigator alleged Monday.
The report by the House Business Office said Republican Reps. Todd Courser of Lapeer and Cindy Gamrat of Plainwell were "not credible witnesses" in interviews and found that wrongdoing extended beyond their relationship to improperly using state resources for political purposes.
"While the affair itself may have been a personal matter, the decisions of both members to subsequently deceive their constituencies in an effort to 'inoculate the herd' and remain in their positions of power may have caused irreparable harm to their ability to serve their electorates," wrote Tim Bowlin, the House's chief financial officer and business director. "Effective representation requires trust, and trust requires truth."
GOP House Speaker Kevin Cotter, who requested the report, said hearings will begin Tuesday by a special committee to investigate the legislators' fitness for office. That could result in discipline, including the expulsion of two of the Legislature's most outspoken social conservatives.
FULL story at link.
FILE- In this Jan. 14, 2015 file photo, Rep. Cindy Gamrat, R-Plainwell, and Rep Todd Courser, R-Lapeer wave to reporters in the House of Representatives in Lansing, Mich. An investigation of the Michigan lawmakers who had an extramarital affair alleges numerous instances of deceptive and “outright dishonest” conduct to cover it up. (Dale G. Young /Detroit News via AP) DETROIT FREE PRESS OUT; HUFFINGTON POST OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7aa1f096981b44a6a51609d530958f60/probe-michigan-lawmakers-engaged-dishonest-cover
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