Michigan Assistant AG Fired After Targeting Openly Gay Student Leader
19 replies, posted
Source: [URL]http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/11/08/michigan.asst.attorney.general/index.html?hpt=T1[/URL]
[quote]An assistant attorney general in Michigan is out of a job, fired after targeting an openly gay University of Michigan student leader online and in person -- then lying about his actions to investigators -- state Attorney General Mike Cox said Monday. Andrew Shirvell "repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior and inappropriately used state resources," Cox said.
The lawyer for Chris Armstrong, the university's student body president, lauded the decision by Cox to axe Shirvell.
"It's inexplicable -- he knows nothing about Chris," attorney Deborah Gordon said on CNN's "AC 360" about Shirvell, who claimed that Armstrong was a "racist, elitist liar" and "privileged pervert."
"We're very gratified that justice was done ... and, for the time, Shirvell is going to be held responsible," Gordon said.
Shirvell's lawyer, Philip J. Thomas, acknowledged his client's termination to CNN but did not comment further. He told the Detroit Free Press that his client was "devastated" by Cox's announcement, claiming that Shirvell's bosses gave him positive reviews and knew of his activities outside work.
"This smells political to me," Thomas told the newspaper. "There's been a tremendous piling-on against Andrew. The liberal media started this tempest in a teapot."
Gordon responded by telling CNN's Anderson Cooper on Monday night that she felt it was "pathetic and lame for (Shirvell) to be whining about being bullied."
In late September, Cox defended Shirvell's authoring of a blog titled "Chris Armstrong Watch" that railed against the college senior and sociology major.
"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 CNN. "He's clearly a bully ... but is that protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution? Yes."
But in Monday's announcement, Cox said he concluded that Shirvell's dismissal was warranted due to actions "unbecoming a state employee" that went beyond the blog.
Cox said he wasn't firing Shirvell for "exercising ... First Amendment rights, (however) unpopular (the) positions might be," but for persistent and personal harassment.
According to Cox, Shirvell showed up at Armstrong's home three times -- including once at 1:30 a.m. Cox said that this early morning visit, especially, showed that Shirvell was intent on harassing Armstrong, not just exercising his right to free speech.
While Shirvell may not be charged criminally with stalking, Cox said that he behaved in a way that "was harassing, uninvited and showed a pattern that was, in the everyday sense, stalking." He cited numerous examples, including:
-- Calling the office of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, where Armstrong worked, "in an attempt to slander Armstrong" and get him fired.
-- Trying to "out" Armstrong's friends -- some of whom were not gay -- as homosexual.
-- Harassing Armstrong's friends while out socializing in Ann Arbor, the home of the University of Michigan.
Cox had originally defended Shirvell in part because he believed his blog was being done when he wasn't at work. But he said Monday that Shirvell had, in fact, posted online "attacks" on Armstrong and called Pelosi's office while he was on the job as an assistant attorney general.
In his statement, Cox also said that Shirvell lied to investigators "on several occasions during his displinary hearing."
After his blog garnered national media attention, Shirvell placed it behind a privacy firewall, making it available only to invited readers.
In early October, he took a voluntary leave of absence from his job. Around that time, Shirvell, a graduate of the University of Michigan, was barred from the Ann Arbor campus.
Shirvell defended his postings on "AC 360" on September 28, acknowledging that he protested outside Armstrong's house and called him "Satan's representative on the student assembly."
"I'm a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights," Shirvell told Cooper. "I have no problem with the fact that Chris is a homosexual. I have a problem with the fact that he's advancing a radical homosexual agenda."
Armstrong, who said he has never spoken with Shirvell, told CNN days later that his principal issues as the school's student body president was longer cafeteria hours, gender-neutral housing and lower tuition costs.
"The things that are said about me are not my issues," Armstrong said.
Gordon said that she and her client aren't done going after Shirvell. That includes trying to have him disbarred as a licensed attorney in Michigan. She said investigators' finding that Shirvell lied to the attorney general's office is central to their case.
"This man is a loose cannon with a law license," said Gordon.[/quote]Raging homophobes will rage.
Probably a closet homosexual himself
[QUOTE=Siemens;25952015]Probably a closet homosexual himself[/QUOTE]
my metro > connex
[quote]"I'm a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights," Shirvell told Cooper. "I have no problem with the fact that Chris is a homosexual. I have a problem with the fact that he's advancing a radical homosexual agenda."[/quote]
Freedom of speech doesn't apply to hate speech.
[QUOTE=CoolKingKaso;25952481]Freedom of speech doesn't apply to hate speech.[/QUOTE]
then how come WBC exists?
The interview with jason jones was fucking hilarious.
[quote]radical homosexual agenda[/quote]
umm what
[editline]9th November 2010[/editline]
[QUOTE=viperfan7;25952829]then how come WBC exists?[/QUOTE]
because its religious and indirect
[QUOTE=viperfan7;25952829]then how come WBC exists?[/QUOTE]
Because they hate everything, including themselves
[QUOTE=CoolKingKaso;25952481]Freedom of speech doesn't apply to hate speech.[/QUOTE]
Especially when its part of your job to not discriminate.
Pretty sure because the Daily Show made a segment about him last week.
I know a guy that knows the guy that was being targeted because he's gay.
[quote]"I'm a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights," Shirvell told Cooper. "I have no problem with the fact that Chris is a homosexual. I have a problem with the fact that he's advancing a radical homosexual agenda."
[/quote]
"I want to spout as much shit as I want but he can't come out for his beliefs!"
[QUOTE=Lambeth;25953512]The interview with jason jones was fucking hilarious.[/QUOTE]
I saw that. That's probably what got him the attention that got him fired.
[editline]10th November 2010[/editline]
[QUOTE=CoolKingKaso;25952481]Freedom of speech doesn't apply to hate speech.[/QUOTE]
Yes it does, retard.
[QUOTE=CoolKingKaso;25952481]Freedom of speech doesn't apply to hate speech.[/QUOTE]
It does however if its against one person it sorta loop holes. You know if it really didn't the KKK wouldn't exist and nor would of a lot of groups.
[QUOTE=Jewsus;25963768]Yes it does, retard.[/QUOTE]
Not if you're attacking an individual person.
[editline]9th November 2010[/editline]
[QUOTE=SomeRandomGuy18;25953561]because its religious and [b]indirect[/b][/QUOTE]
That was the word I was looking for, they don't necessarily target a gay person. They just protest on the street. However, if they did protest at a gay's house, then they can be charged with hate speech.
and of course the gay guy would be a student leader
[QUOTE=Archy;25972465]and of course the gay guy would be a student leader[/QUOTE]
Bit of generalization huh?
[QUOTE=Archy;25972465]and of course the gay guy would be a student leader[/QUOTE]
What does that have to do with anything?
[QUOTE=CoolKingKaso;25952481]Freedom of speech doesn't apply to hate speech.[/QUOTE]
Actually, it does. However, speech is not allowed to incite violence. I think this is where it gets confusing. If you say you think all gay people should burn in hell, then that's constitutionally protected. However, if you ask that people should douse all gay people with gasoline, then that's inciting violence and is not protected. Opinions are protected, no matter how vile.
People confuse the two, I think, because a lot of hate speech includes talk of inciting violence. WBC does pure hate speech. General hate, no messages to incite violence. That's why they get away with it.
Also, it should be noted that this guy who was fired was done so because he went beyond speech. He stalked, lied, and was a general prick. He deserved to be canned because he's a bitch.
I wonder what this radical gay agenda is all about.
lol 'mike cox'
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