Former staffer to state reps details Gamrat-Courser affair

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Todd Courser, Cindy Gamrat.

Monday meant more fallout from the affair between state representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat.

Joshua Cline detailed an uncomfortable work environment at their combined offices in Lansing in a press conference Monday.

"They frequently greeted each other with what appeared to be long, romantic highly personal hugs and embraces," Cline said. "Mr. Courser would often nap on Rep. Gamrat's office floor. Upon seeing him, Rep. Gamrat would tuck him in with a pillow and a blanket."

"Representatives Courser and Gamrat would routinely disappear for hours at a time especially on Thursdays after session and then ask us to get them dinner."

Cline told reporters he suspected an affair and in January mentioned his concerns at a late night staff meeting but was told it was not his place.

So he took his concerns elsewhere.

"I brought my concerns to the attention to members of the speaker's office," Cline said. "But found there was no relief forthcoming."

That's when Cline says he quit.

"It is not an easy task to choose integrity over a paycheck to support my family," he said.

But before the affair blew up - Cline says he got a call from Cindy Gamrat's husband, Joe, in February.

Cline says Joe said he saw Todd and Cindy staying late at their legislative offices and saw Cindy leave Todd's hotel room at the Radisson at 2 a.m.  leading to a scene that involved Gamrat's husband and the police.

"I received a call on my way to work from Joe Gamrat which would be Cindy Gamrat's husband," Cline said. "And he had told me just a warning, that you're going to be in for a very bad day."

Cline says it was a strange day at the office with Gamrat and Courser...

"Cindy was a little bit late," Cline said. "She arrived disheveled, she smelled of alcohol. He spent most of the day leaning on the cabinets in Gamrat's office. He was very distraught, very quiet. They spent a lot of time in their back office that day."

Cline would not comment on whether or not he was asked to do anything improper on state time or state resources.

But he called Courser and Gamrat's efforts to legislate marriage in Michigan - hypocritical.

"You have marriage vows and you should stick to them and it does reek of hypocrisy," Cline said. "I am with most of the rest of the public that that views that the same way."

Cline denied making anonymous calls to blackmail Courser, so did Courser. Cline's lawyer said everything is still under investigation.