Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox Fires Anti-Gay Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell In Part For “Engaging In Borderline Stalking Behaviour” In Attacks Make Against Chris Armstrong

Andrew Shirvell has been fired, reports the Detroit Free Press. The Michigan assistant attorney general whose personal unprovoked anti-gay attacks against University of Michigan openly gay Student Assembly President Chris Armstrong were dangerous and deeply disturbing, and compromised the office of attorney general, was fired for conduct unbecoming a state employee, especially that of an assistant general, read a statement released Monday afternoon from the Attorney General Mike Cox that said in part “To be clear, I refuse to fire anyone for exercising their First Amendment rights, regardless of how popular or unpopular their positions might be. However, Shirvell repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behaviour, and inappropriately used state resources, our investigation showed.” Shirvell, who accused Armstrong of using his position as president – he was elected this spring – to advance a “radical homosexual agenda,” claimed the statements made on his personal blog were protected by the free speech clause contained in the First Amendment. However, according to the statement from the AG’s office, Shirvell showed up at Armstrong’s home three times, including once at 1:30 am, an incident that makes clear Shirvell was concerned in harassing Armstrong, and not engaging in free speech. Shirvell also repeatedly harassed several of Armstrong’s friends. Shirvell had taken leave from his position pending the outcome of hearing, which began Friday. That hearing was to continue Tuesday, however it was moved up to Monday afternoon, where he was told that as a result of his actions, it is impossible for him to carry out his duties as attorney general. Armstrong’ s attorney, Deborah Gordon, released a statement Monday commending the firing, and said it was time for Shirvell to understand that there are consequences to his “reckless, outrageous statements and actions and that he is solely responsible for those consequences.”