LANSING, Mich. – An assistant state attorney general accused of harassing the gay student assembly president at the University of Michigan was fired Monday.
Andrew Shirvell, 30, went on leave about a month ago after national criticism erupted over a blog he wrote characterizing student leader Chris Armstrong as a "racist" and a "liar" who promoted a "radical homosexual agenda."
Shirvell's attorney has said his actions were constitutionally protected as free speech. Shirvell had attended the first day of a disciplinary hearing Friday and expected that hearing to continue later this week, but then was called in and fired.
Cox said the firing came after a state investigation revealed that Shirvell "repeatedly ******** office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior and inappropriately used state resources."
"To be clear, I refuse to fire anyone for exercising their First Amendment rights, regardless of how popular or unpopular their positions might be," Cox said in a statement.
But he said Shirvell's conduct went beyond free speech when he showed up three separate times outside Armstrong's Ann Arbor home, including once at 1:30 a.m.
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