Chris Armstrong, the openly gay University of Michigan student council leader will push forward with his request to have dismissed Michigan Attorney General Andrew Shirvell disbarred. Chris Armstrong and his lawyer said Shirvell, who was fired yesterday, is not fit to be licensed to practice law.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said yesterday that the anti-gay assistant AG was fired for repeatedly violating office policies, engaging in borderline stalking behavior, and inappropriately using state resources. Cox also said Shirvell’s dismissal was warranted due to actions “unbecoming a state employee.”
Shirvell operated a blog, “Chris Armstrong Watch,” which Change.org said was “geared towards harassing” the U-M student body president. In the blog, the anti-gay assistant attorney general posted doctored pictures of Armstrong showing swastikas on his face and even suggested Armstrong was holding sex parties in his dorm room, Change.org reported.
Shirvell defended his blog on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 saying “I’m a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights.” The anti-gay Shirvell said “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.” The Michigan assistant AG also claimed Armstrong was a “racist, elitist liar” and “privileged pervert.”
Cox said Shirvell was not dismissed because he was “exercising … First Amendment rights,” but because he behaved in manner that “was harassing, uninvited and showed a pattern that was, in the everyday sense, stalking.” Cox said Shirvell showed up at Armstrong’s home three times — including once at 1:30 a.m. This, Cox said, showed that he was intent on harassing Armstrong, not just exercising his right to free speech.
Chris Armstrong filed his motion for disbarment against Shirvell before the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission in October 29. Armstrong said: “I felt I could not stand by and let Mr. Shirvell continue his reckless, bullying behavior.”
The lawyer for Chris Armstrong, Deborah Gordon lauded the decision to dismiss the anti-gay assistant AG. “We’re very gratified that justice was done … and, for the time, Shirvell is going to be held responsible,” Gordon said. “This man is a loose cannon with a law license,” said Gordon.
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