(MPRN-Lansing) Former state Representative Todd Courser (R-Lapeer) will face trial on perjury and misconduct charges, while a judge has dismissed criminal charges against former state Representative Cindy Gamrat (R-Plainwell).
Lansing District Judge Hugh Clark said the state’s case against Gamrat was simply too weak to go to trial. The state has 21 days to appeal the decision, but Gamrat says she hopes this is the final word on the matter.
“I think I have a lot of mixed emotions,” said Gamrat. “It’s been a really hard journey.”
A spokesman for Attorney General Bill Schuette confirmed that his office does not plan to appeal the dismissal of the charges against Gamrat.
Judge Clark determined that Courser will face trial on perjury and misconduct charges. Those are related to allegations he pressured employees in his office to forge his name on official House documents and then lied about it.
"Judge Clarke was correct to approve of these charges and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law in circuit court,"
said Andrea Bitely, communications director for the attorney general. Clark dismissed two other charges related to Courser’s efforts to pressure an employee to send a “false flag” e-mail outlining outrageous claims of drug use and gay sex in an effort to cover up an affair between Courser and Gamrat.
Clark said the state had failed to establish probable cause and the charges were filed in the wrong venue because the plot took place at Courser’s law office in Lapeer, and not in Ingham County.
“This wasn’t in my backyard,”
said Clark.
Gamrat was expelled last September by the state House over the scandal, and Courser resigned as an expulsion vote was about to take place.