Michigan State Rep. Todd Courser has allegedly fired an aide for refusing to create a bogus story that his boss was caught having sex with a male prostitute, according to The Detroit News.
Courser, married to a woman and a father of four, thought the gay scandal would distract from news that was soon to break about his affair with State Rep. Cindy Gamrat -- the female politician, married and with kids as well, is also accused of taking part in the phony gay sex plot and unfairly firing one of her aides.
Courser's aide Ben Graham tried to urge the two representatives that the gay sex story was not the best way to handle news of their affair. According to a text message received by the two politicians, their relationship was known to state Republican officials and was about to go public.
After Graham refused to take part in the plan, someone -- possibly Courser or Gamrat -- sent an anonymous email (see below) to Republican officials about Courser being bisexual and caught with the prostitute.
Graham was terminated not long after he refused to take part in disseminating the gay prostitute email. Graham, who recorded conversations between him, Courser, and Gamrat about the plot, received a big raise before being fired. Gamrat's aide Keith Allard knew about the affair and was also given a big raise shortly before being terminated.
Graham's recordings of the plot were given to The Detroit News, which asked Courser for comment this week.
"I'm not commenting on what happened in my office between Ben and I inside here," Courser said. "... I don't have any comment at all."
Both Courser and Gamrat are hard-line conservatives -- at least they present themselves as such -- and have vociferously fought against same-sex marriage and abortion rights.
