1 lawmaker expelled, another resigns after affair coverup

LANSING, Mich. — One socially conservative Michigan lawmaker has been expelled and another resigned early Friday after the two were embroiled in scandal over their extramarital affair and a coverup attempt.

Republican Rep. Todd Courser announced his resignation, effective immediately, and was 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. Gamrat was expelled shortly after Courser's resignation.

"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."

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