Andrew Shirvell's 2010 firing from the
Michigan Attorney General's office over targeting former University
of Michigan student body President Chris Armstrong has been upheld,
AnnArbor.com
first reported.
William Hutchens, a hearing officer
with the Michigan Civil Service Commission, on Tuesday issued the
decision. Shirvell, he wrote, was found to “have engaged in
harassing conduct of the basest sort.”
Shirvell, an alum of UofM, protested
the election of Armstrong as the school's first openly gay student
body president. He attacked Armstrong on the Internet, at his home
and at university events. At
his now private blog Chris
Armstrong Watch, the official accused the student of preying
on impressionable freshman and of being “Satan's representative on
the student assembly,” and labeled Armstrong a Nazi, a racist, a
liar and an elitist.
Shirvell was fired by then-Attorney
General Mike Cox, a Republican, who at first defended his employee's
actions as free speech. Shirvell “repeatedly violated office
policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior and inappropriately
used state resources,” Cox said in a statement.
Hutchen's 16-page decision also
considered Shirvell's numerous media appearances in which he defended
his actions: “The fact that the grievant made a media spectacle of
himself and the department for which he worked without regard for the
interests of his employer constitutes conduct unbecoming a state
employee.”
Phillip J. Thomas, who represents
Shirvell, called the ruling “deeply flawed” and said his client
would appeal the ruling.