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Embattled Lawmakers' Ex-Aide: I Confronted Them About Affair

A former aide to embattled Michigan state Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat says he was rebuffed when he confronted them about having an "inappropriate physical relationship."
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ROYAL OAK, Mich. — A former aide to embattled Michigan state Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat says he was rebuffed when he confronted them about having an "inappropriate physical relationship."

Joshua Cline said at a news conference Monday that his former bosses "quickly dismissed his concerns" and warned it wasn't his place to get involved.

The lawmakers had an extramarital affair and Courser admitted to orchestrating a smear campaign suggesting he had sex with a male prostitute to divert attention. Courser alleges that Cline, who quit in April, and other ex-aides tried to "blackmail" him to resign.

Related: In Bizarre Political Scandal, Michigan Lawmaker Accuses Ex-Aides of Blackmail

Courser and Gamrat are subjects of a state House investigation into whether they misused public resources to hide their relationship and fired another aide for refusing to help.

Both say they don't plan to quit.

Image:
In this Jan. 14, 2015 photo, Rep. Cindy Gamrat, R-Plainwell, and Rep Todd Courser, R-Lapeer wave to reporters in the House of Representatives in Lansing.Dale G. Young / AP