Student's lawyer speaks out on Shirvell's firing

CNN Wire Staff

(CNN) - An assistant attorney general in Michigan is out of a job, fired after targeting an openly gay University of Michigan student leader online and in person - then lying about his actions to investigators - state Attorney General Mike Cox said Monday.

Andrew Shirvell "repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior and inappropriately used state resources," Cox said.

The lawyer for Chris Armstrong, the university's student body president, lauded the decision by Cox to axe Shirvell.

"It's inexplicable - he knows nothing about Chris," attorney Deborah Gordon said on CNN's "AC 360" about Shirvell, who claimed that Armstrong was a "racist, elitist liar" and "privileged pervert."

"We're very gratified that justice was done ... and, for the time, Shirvell is going to be held responsible," Gordon said.

Shirvell's lawyer, Philip J. Thomas, acknowledged his client's termination to CNN but did not comment further. He told the Detroit Free Press that his client was "devastated" by Cox's announcement, claiming that Shirvell's bosses gave him positive reviews and knew of his activities outside work.

"This smells political to me," Thomas told the newspaper. "There's been a tremendous piling-on against Andrew. The liberal media started this tempest in a teapot."

Gordon responded by telling CNN's Anderson Cooper on Monday night that she felt it was "pathetic and lame for (Shirvell) to be whining about being bullied."

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