AG Alan Wilson confirms Clemson has authority to act on faculty’s incendiary Charlie Kirk assassination posts

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Today, 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. 

Attorney General Wilson explained that South Carolina’s “political firing” statute (§16-17-560) does not prevent the university from terminating these professors. While the law provides for potential civil claims in wrongful termination disputes, it does not create any 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,” said Attorney General Wilson. “Clemson, and any state university in South Carolina, should not be paralyzed by fear of prosecution when dealing with employees who publicly endorse political violence.” 

Wilson stressed that his office will not prosecute or allow the prosecution of Clemson, or any other public university in South Carolina, for terminating employees under these circumstances. Instead, any disputes over employee speech rights belong in the civil courts. 

“The statements made by these professors were reprehensible and completely contrary to civil discourse and public decency,” Wilson said. “We will not tie the hands of university leaders. They have both the duty and the authority to maintain the high standards of their institutions.” 

The Attorney General reaffirmed his commitment to protecting constitutional rights while ensuring that public employees uphold the responsibilities that come with serving the State of South Carolina. 

You can read the full letter here.