Update: Rep. Todd Courser Posts About 'All That Is Happening Around Me'

One of the two Republican state lawmakers embarrassed by revelations of an extramarital affair and attempted cover-up says Sunday night that he's reflecting, praying and may "issue a statement tomorrow."

Rep. Todd Courser of Lapeer posts the following status update at 7:51 p.m. on his personal Facebook page, where the content is publicly visible. It's his first public statement since a sensational Detroit News expose upended his life early Friday:

I want to thank all of you who have offered up your prayers and support these last few days; it has meant the world to myself and my family.

Given all that is happening around me I have felt it was appropriate to simply take some time and reflect and simply pray. I will try and issue a statement tomorrow.

God bless you all and thanks again for your prayers!

Original article, Sunday morning:

State Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat were paired openly as outspoken Republican allies even before their private relationship became front-page news Friday.

They're conservative bedfellows who share positions. The night that Rick Snyder addressed lawmakers in January, the two Lansing newcomers announced a "Contract for Liberty Project" as their response, asserting "the right of the people to be free from intrusive and overpowering government."

Nearly seven months later, Courser and Gamrat are the focus of a House investigation into possible rule violations. Speaker Kevin Cotter authorized the inquiry Friday after an expose drawing national attention. Chad Livengood of The Detroit News disclosed that Courser directed a House employee to distribute a fictional email alleging he had sex with a male prostitute in a bid to conceal his affair with Gamrat.

Courser, who represents a Lapeer County district, is a 43-year-old father of four who's married to Fon Courser, an accountant born in Thailand.

Gamrat, 42, lives near Plainwell in western Michigan with her husband Joe, a sales executive who's originally from Warren. They began dating in high school and have three kids, including twins.

"This is not just about protecting me. It’s also about protecting Joe and the kids,” former aide Ben Graham, who served both representatives, taped Gamrat saying May 21. She urged Graham to keep quiet about “a mistake that we made,” adding: “I would ask you to just keep this private."

Six days after the first-term representatives attended their first House session, they issued an unusual. strident pushback to their party's highest state official after his annual televised speech to lawmakers and citizens. They label it "The Liberty Response to the Governor's State of the State Address," and Courser posts it on his campaign site.

"Greetings friends and fellow Patriots ," it begins, setting a tone that's sustained throughout.

"It goes on for 1,200 or so more words, mixing populism with an explicit rebuke of what [Courser] portrays as Gov. Rick Snyder’s vision for 'ever growing government,' ” journalist Nancy Nall Derringer writes in a revealing Bridge magazine profile, posted in April.

Looked at now in light of adultery acknowledged indirectly by Courser (while discussing an attempted cover-up with an aide, who gave The News a recording of the conversation), the faith-framed declarations in the Jan. 20 "Liberty Response" seem . . . well, ironic is a soft way to say it. Ypsilanti blogger Mark Maynard unloads another word in a Saturday post headlined "Hypocrisy Watch."

It’s not the crime itself, but the hypocrisy. Just read the following clip from his so-called “Liberty Response” to the Governor’s last State-of-the-State speech, and tell me Courser doesn’t deserve every bit of the disdain that is now raining down upon him.

" I have known Rep. Gamrat for several years . . . and she has always acted with the utmost integrity, respect and honor in all of her dealings," Rep. Courser says in this April 27 statement.

The text signed by Gamrat and Courser, with references to God, has piously worded statements about "personal responsibility" and "stronger families:"

We are compelled to first and foremost adhere to Biblical principles, the Constitution, our families. . . . It is incumbent upon us to protect these interests. . . .

It is critical that we . . . protect liberty and the sound fiscal practices which lead to stronger families. . . .

It is time for servant leaders to stand again for . . . personal opportunity, personal responsibility. . . .

We call all our citizens to pray for those in leadership, asking that God would grant them wisdom, judgment, discernment, and the fortitude to do the right things, in the right moments, for the right reasons.

By their words, we shall know them. Until private behavior contradicts public poses.