Remember Andrew Shirvell, the former Michigan Assistant Attorney General who was fired from his job after obsessively stalking and harassing 21-year-old Chris Armstrong, the University of Michigan’s openly gay student body president? Shirvell, who now lives on Long Island, started a blog called “Chris Armstrong Watch” that was devoted exclusively to tormenting Armstrong, calling him “Satan’s representative” who promoted a “radical homosexual agenda,” a “racist,” a “privileged pervert,” and a “liar,” publishing a photograph of Armstrong on which the attorney had superimposed a swastika on a rainbow flag, spreading false allegations of binge drinking and improper conduct on school grounds, and — creepiest of all — showing up outside Armstrong’s home, once at 1:30am. He was fired after an internal investigation at the Attorney General’s office revealed that he “repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior and inappropriately used state resources.”
Well, unsurprisingly, Armstrong filed suit against Shirvell in federal court for defamation. Jury selection began earlier this week in Detroit. The Associated Press reports that Armstrong’s attorney offered to drop the charges if Shirvell simply apologized, but he refused. His trial begins Tuesday.
I hope Armstrong has a restraining order, Shirvell is probably secretly in love with Armstrong and sounds like a potential homicidal maniac. I don’t consider what Shirvell did to be ‘borderline’ stalking — it was totally stalking (and bullying).
This man is sick. He has an obsession with a single gay man that goes very far beyond just not liking gay people. He is incredibly focused on this one young man. Sounds like a jilted lover to me. The actions are that crazy.
I find this Andrew Shirvell a real nut job; a very scary and delusional guy who seems to have trouble differentiating between his nut job beliefs and living in the real world.
Gary, Gianni, you both said what I’ve been thinking. This was a twisted romantic obsession. I’m dismayed that it took state officials so long to take action against the man. I remember the attorney general saying that the guy was just exercising his free speech.
Dude, he’s just not that into you! Just drop it already! Just get on Grindr or something. I’m sure there are plenty of gay guys on there with no self-respect who would LOVE to go out with a Peewee Herman looking whackjob.
Didn’t you get banned Chucky?
[...] to say, Armstrong sued. His attorneys reached out to Shirvell, saying that Armstrong was willing to drop all charges [...]