LANSING, Mich., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A state prosecutor in Michigan has been fired for online attacks on a gay University of Michigan student government officer, the attorney general's office said.
Student Assembly President Christopher Armstrong had filed for a protection order in September against Andrew Shirvell, who he said was harassing and stalking him. Shirvell was subsequently placed on paid sick leave as assistant attorney general while investigators looked into his online campaign calling Armstrong a "radical homosexual activist."
Shirvell acknowledged in an interview with CNN he has shot video outside Armstrong's home and tracked his social networking activities, but maintained he did it on his own time and not in his capacity as a state prosecutor.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said Monday Shirvell has been fired for actions he took on company time and for lying to investigators, not for exercising his First Amendment rights, the Detroit Free Press reported. Cox said Shirvell "repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior, and inappropriately used state resources, our investigation showed."
Cox said investigators had determined Shirvell showed up at the home of a private citizen three times -- including once at 1:30 a.m. He said Shirvell harassed Armstrong's friends and made several telephone calls to the office of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., characterized as attempts to slander Armstrong and get him fired.
Shirvell's attorney, Philip Thomas, said the firing "smells political," the Free Press reported.
