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Court clears path for perjury case against ex-lawmaker

Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat.
Michigan Legislature photos
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michigan.gov

The Michigan appeals court says there's no protection for a former lawmaker who is charged with perjury related to a sex scandal that forced him to quit in 2015.

The state constitution grants immunity to lawmakers for certain acts of official business. But the appeals court says it doesn't apply to Todd Courser in this case.

Courser is charged with lying to a House committee that was investigating him. In a 3-0 opinion Tuesday, the court says he was testifying about his fitness for office, not legislative business.

Courser, a Republican from Lapeer, resigned, while Cindy Gamrat, a Republican from Allegan County, was expelled from the House. They were accused of using state resources to try to cover up their extramarital affair.