South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson sent a letter to Clemson University President James Clements, making clear that Clemson has full legal authority to take corrective action against faculty members who posted vile and incendiary comments on social media following the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Wilson explained that South Carolina’s “political firing” statute (§16-17-560) doesn’t prevent the university from terminating these professors.
Wilson said while the law provides for potential civil claims in wrongful termination disputes, it doesn’t create criminal liability for university officials who hold employees accountable for their actions.
“The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, but it does not shield threats, glorification of violence, or behavior that undermines the mission of our state institutions,” Wilson said.