Update: Shirvell fired after targeting openly gay student leader
Editor's note: Tonight on AC360°, Deborah Gordon, attorney for college student Chris Armstrong, speaks with CNN's Anderson Cooper. Tune in beginning at 10 pm ET.
CNN Wire Staff
(CNN) - An assistant attorney general in Michigan has been fired, weeks after coming under fire for targeting an openly gay University of Michigan student online and in person, Attorney General Mike Cox said Monday.
Andrew Shirvell "repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior and inappropriately used state resources," Cox said.
Shirvell's lawyer, Philip J. Thomas, acknowledged his client's termination but did not add anything further. Deborah Bond, the attorney for university student body president, Chris Armstrong, said she and her client "had no comment."
In late September, Cox defended Shirvell's authoring of a blog titled "Chris Armstrong Watch" that railed against the "radical homosexual agenda" of Armstrong.
"Here in America, we have this thing called the First Amendment, which allows people to express what they think and engage in political and social speech," Cox told Anderson Cooper on CNN's "AC 360." "He's clearly a bully ... but is that protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution? Yes."
Shirvell's dismissal stemmed from actions "unbecoming a state employee" that went beyond the blog, Cox said in Monday's announcement.
Cox said he wasn't firing Shirvell for "exercising ... First Amendment rights, (however) unpopular (the) positions might be," but for persistent and personal harassment.
Updated: 6:17 pm
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Filed under: 360° Radar • 360º Follow |
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This should have been done a while ago... Why right after the elections?
The irony? This very same guy did an interview for The Daily Show. He pretty much shot himself in the foot if anyone saw it
Why did this take so long ? Whatever the circumstance, why did this take so long for the Attorney General to act ?
Shame on Shirvell .. and Cox as well.
Its about time!
Taking this long is a disgrace. Hate-filled rhetoric has no place. Anywhere.
Finally. Great story by Anderson Cooper. My concern now is that the student remains safe from this kind of hate-stalking.
Why is it always someone on the far right doing this kind of thing? Liberals never seem to engage in hateful or threatening behavior. Is ultraconservatism somehow linked to violent behavior or mental illness?
I'll be so happy when this guy comes out of the closet. Should be any day now.
I am finally glad his employer looked into this and removed this man from his duties. Abusing people gets you know where!
Good news – that interview on the Daily Show (especially that one-liner at the end!) really showed what a loser this 'man' was. Good riddance, the system DOES work ...
Whatever happened to free speech.
So glad to see this guy gone! I couldn't believe this was going on when I saw him on the Daily Show.
Alas some great news!!!!
I would like to commend Mike Cox on this difficult, but good decision. It's about time somebody around here stood up for a minority. Many kudos, Mr. Cox!
About time.
Now when will he be brought up on harassment charges?
Good he should be fired for his unstable behavior. We don't need people like that in public office no matter who you are.
Whatever happened to what we learned in Kindergarten...if you have nothing good to say, keep your mouth shut!?
Thank God and his boss who finally stood up to this bully!
It's about time.
It's about time somebody did something to get rid of this bigot.
About time. I am all for free speech but what this guy did was way over the top for a public employee.
Good! It should have been done long ago!
It's about time this bigoted idiot was fired!
It's about time. This man is not fit to serve as an assistant attorney general. It's a shame that without an public outcry, AG Cox would have let him continue to hold office and shame the people of the state of Michigan. It's clear that he is a seriously disturbed individual.
Anderson, you did good work in drawing attention to this bully. Thanks for updating us to let us know that justice has been done.
Way to go Anderson!!
Use that pulpit to get the anti-gays out of their jobs!!
No one's watching your show, might as well make what difference you can while it lasts...pretty soon Rick Sanchez and Aaron Brown will be buying you drinks at a nearby bowling alley
How ironic that he looks EXACTLY like Evan Greenstein
Thank goodness. What is a guy like this doing harassing someone half his age? As Assistant AG, didn't he have anything important to do than go after someone who a bunch of students elected? What a freak.
Just after the guy appeared on The Daily Show earlier this week, too. What are the odds? - Anyway, what a nutcase. Seriously. What was an assistant attorney general doing going after a student, anyway?
This should have been done a long time ago. At least they have corrected their mistakes and fired him!
It's about time! Let's all get something straight: IT IS NOT OK TO BE A BIGOT!!!
Countdown to him being on Glenn Beck's radio show hollering about how he was wronged in 3...2...1...
Gee, what took the state of Michigan so long?
When you accept a position in local, state or national government, in many cases, you set aside your right to say anything that you want to in the public domain because you represent ALL individuals of that jurisdiction.
Mr. Shirvell does have right to hold his beliefs and speak his mind – BUT... he should have resign from his job first. As a staff member of AG's Office for Michigan – he represents ALL Michigan's citizens-straight, gay, black, white, etc.
Glad to see the Attorney General's office take a stance. This man's behavior is totally unacceptable and inhumane. What ever happend to libel? Does anyone follow any kind of guidelines anymore? There is protest and disapproval but this was just slander and hate!
Finally, this troubled person has been relieved of 'service'. As an alum of U of M and as a 51 year (past) resident of Michigan, this situation was a horrible embarrassment to the State and to the University. Now someone needs to find out why it took this long for the A.G of the State to fire this clown. Partisan politics anyone???
JRW
Eugene, OR
Good. About time we got some good news for a change.
Homophobia is a psychological condition that can lead to violent behavior. It shouldn't be tolerated.
This guy is clearly dangerous. Finally the Attorney General made the right decision in this.
This man deserves worse than being fired, he should be prosecuted for stalking and misuse of funds.
Firing is a good start though, he is more than a little off in the head.
Couldn't happen to a more deserving person.
Yes!!!!
Bout time!
People get fired every day for being stupid, why is this guy special?
It's about time. Strange how some can believe God is anti-gay but pro-venom.
It's been said that justice delayed is justice denied, but in this case I think "Better late than Never" will have to be good enough.
As a Michigan resident, it was imperative to see this man out of office.
I hate to see anyone loose their job, however, I despise bullying even more. I hope Andrew Shirvell sees where he made his mistakes. If you read this – Andrew, you are an adult – you cannot attack/stalk anyone. If you don't agree with them – agree to disagree and move on. Life is too short – have your opinion and if no one likes it, acknowledge their point, learn from it, and move on. Hopefully you can get the mental support you need to overcome this.
so now we have a disgruntled homophobe with too much time on his hand left to roam the streets, filled with anger. Anyone else see this as a recipe for tragedy?
Finally! This government official has been engaging in this harassment for too long without any repercussions.
Good riddance.
After the" shellacing" anyone other than those to the right took last week, this is a welcome victory. Gives one a hint of hope, in a very gloomy looking future.