Andrew Shirvell (right) appears on CNN's Anderson Cooper (left).
A Michigan public official criticizes an openly gay University of Michigan student saying the student is promoting a radical agenda.
Andrew Shirvell is Michigan's assistant attorney general.
He works directly under Attorney General Mike Cox and says he has a right to speak his mind on his own time.
Andrew Shirvell's blog titled "Chris Armstrong Watch" shows the U of M student assembly president with a swastika on his face telling him to resign.
It also has the words "racist, elitist, liar" and calls Armstrong "Satan's representative on the student assembly."
Shirvell defended his position on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360.
Andrew Shirvell says, "I'm a Christian citizen expressing my first amendment rights. I have no problem with Chris as a homosexual. I have a problem with the fact that he is advancing a very radical agenda."
Michigan's attorney general and Shirvell's boss Mike Cox issued the following statement, "Mr. Shirvell's personal opinions are his and his alone and do not reflect the views of the Michigan Department of Attorney General. But his immaturity and lack of judgment outside the office are clear."
Democrat candidate for attorney general David Leyton says, "This type of conduct is unbecoming of the attorney general's office, and it's yet another example of why we need to clean up Lansing."
CNN's senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin says the supreme court has said, "Public employees do not have the same free speech rights as other people."
Shirvell says he's been protesting as a private citizen on his own time. "The real bigot is Chris Armstrong. I don't have any hate in my body at all. I recognize Chris is a child of God. However, just because he's homosexual doesn't mean he gets a free pass and we can't criticize him."
CNN says Chris Armstrong isn't giving media interviews, that he's hired a lawyer, and possibly considering a lawsuit.
At this point Attorney General Mike Cox has not taken any action against his assistant.
