Rep. Gamrat expelled from State House; Courser resigns

LANSING, Mich. (WJBK) - Two socially conservative Michigan lawmakers embroiled in a scandal over their extramarital affair and a cover-up attempt are out of office this morning.

Lawmakers voted to expel Rep. Cindy Gamrat shortly after 4 a.m. Friday. She became just the fourth legislator to be kicked out in state history. Gamrat, who was tossed on a 91-12 vote, declined comment as she left the Capitol with her teen son, her sister and her attorney at the end of a drama-filled, marathon 16-hour session.

An hour earlier, her colleague, Rep. Todd Courser resigned when it became clear that majority Republicans had secured enough support from Democrats for his expul;sion by promising to ask the attorney general and state police to investigate. Both were escorted out of the chamber.

His decision came amid a marathon overnight session in the House over whether he and Rep. Cindy Gamrat should stay in their jobs.

"I just felt like it was the appropriate moment to do it," Courser told reporters. "I put everybody through a whole bunch -- across the state, my own family, the constituents, the people in this room. ... Whether it was the third vote or the fourth vote or the fifth vote, they were going to eventually get me."

Courser, 43, of Lapeer, has admitted sending an "outlandish" phony email to GOP activists and others in May claiming he was caught with a male prostitute. The email was intended to make his affair with the 42-year-old Gamrat appear less believable if it were exposed.

Gov. Rick Snyder issued the following statement today regarding the Michigan House of Representatives request for the Michigan State Police to investigate the actions of Reps Courser and Gamrat:

“I support the Michigan State Police in opening an investigation into any criminal activity by state Reps. Courser and Gamrat as requested by the Legislature in House Resolutions 141 & 145.  This matter needs to be resolved and an investigation by MSP will provide even further clarity. I hope this investigation helps bring closure to the issue for all involved."

The State House will discuss a possible MSP investigation on the affair and coverup on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates. Information from the Associated Press is included in this report.