Former state representative Cindy Gamrat waited in tears before pleading not guilty to felony charges for trying to cover up her affair.
She's facing two counts of misconduct in office and could spend up to 10 years in prison if she's found guilty.
"We've crafted a strategy," said Mike Nichols, Gamrat's lawyer. "No. It's none of your business."
Gamrat left the talking up to her lawyer who isn't giving away much, but he's questioning why Attorney General Bill Schuette filed the charges.
"Bill Schueutte chose to bring back one of the most tragic cases of Michigan political history," said Nichols. "He chose to keep beating this dead horse. He chose to resurect this from the dead. Now I guess he has to prove his case."
A point Todd Courser also made when he showed up for his arraignment minutes later.
"From my perspective they're baseless, and I'll fight the charges," said Courser.
He's looking at a stiffer sentence, up to 30 years for lying to investigators under oath and misconduct in office.
"Everybody makes mistakes, and I certainly have made my share of mistakes," said Courser.
But he thinks those charges are a way to distract from the state's other problems, including the Flint Water Crisis.
"I think the timing is peculiar," explained Courser. "I think that you know there are lots of things that you could look at if you wanted to look at misconduct."
Both Courser and Gamrat are out on bond and preparing their defense.
