Asst. AG Axed Over Blog Attack on Gay Student Leader
A Michigan prosecutor who attacked a student leader in a blog, calling him a “radical homosexual” and worse, and sought to get him fired from his job, has now himself been axed over his own behavior.
Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell was fired today, said his boss, State Attorney General Mike Cox, for conduct unbecoming a state employee. In addition to campaigning against University of Michigan student assembly president Chris Armstrong on state time, Shirvell on his own time engaged in a pattern of harassing conduct that while “perhaps” not chargeable as criminal stalking was, Cox said in a written statement, within the “everyday” definition of stalking, reports the Detroit Free Press.
“To be clear, I refuse to fire anyone for exercising their First Amendment rights, regardless of how popular or unpopular their positions might be,” said Cox in the statement. “However, Shirvell repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior, and inappropriately used state resources, our investigation showed.”
Hat tip: Above the Law.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Asst. AG On Leave After Blog Tirades Against ‘Radical Homosexual’ Student Leader”
