House Immunity Waived

House staff members, including the general counsel, will be subject to testify at the preliminary hearing for former Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat. This decision comes after much debate regarding the immunity provided in the speech and debate clause of the Constitution.

Dickinson Wright attorney Ryan Shannon commented the staffers are not required to testify under this constitutional provision, however the Department of Attorney General disagreed stating the House waived those privileges when approving HR 145. Judge Hugh Clark Jr. in the 54-A District Court, ruled House Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) may have to testify and that he was not convinced by the argument. After negotiations, Mr. Shannon and attorneys with the Department of Attorney General Denise Hart and Gregory Townsend agreed to have staff members, with the exception of Brock Swartzle and Hassan Beydoun, testify, but are not waiving Constitutional protections.

Staffers testifying include House Business Office Director Tim Bowlin, House financial operations director Deborah Wroubel, House Clerk Gary Randall, and Doug Simon who was director of committee clerks during the Courser-Gamrat proceedings. The preliminary exam is scheduled for May 25^th and May 26^th at 9 a.m.

Attorney General Bill Schuette has filed one count of perjury against Mr. Courser in relation to his select committee testimony and three felony counts of misconduct in the office. Those three counts are for asking a staffer to sign a blue back, lying to the House Business Office investigators and asking a staffer to send a false flag email. Ms. Gamrat has been charged with two felony charges of misconduct in the office for also instructing a staffer to sign a blue back and lying to the House Business Office investigators.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, May 20, 2016 11:20 AM
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