Assistant AG Who Targeted Gay Student Fired

Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell has finally been fired for his weird hate campaign against an openly gay University of Michigan student. Attorney General Mike Cox tells CNN that Shirvell “repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior and inappropriately used state resources.” Shirvell runs a blog called “Chris Armstrong Watch” that accused the student council member of having a “radically gay agenda.” He also protested outside Armstrong’s house.

Shirvell’s antics grabbed national attention after a cringe-worthy interview with Anderson Cooper in September (which you can, and honestly should, watch here.) Still, it looked initially as though he’d keep his job. In a separate September interview, Cox defended Shirvell. “He’s clearly a bully,” Cox said. “But is that protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution? Yes.” Today, Cox clarified that he was firing Shirvell not for exercising his First Amendment rights, but for “persistent and personal harassment.” The offending blog, incidentally, has gone friends-only. (More Andrew Shirvell stories.)