Michigan official is fired for Web war on gay student

Michigan Assistant Attorney Andrew Shirvell has been fired after launching a one-man Internet campaign against Michigan University's student body president, who is gay.

Shirvell's lawyer Philip Thomas tells the Detroit Free Press the move is "political," since Shirvell received excellent performance reviews at work. "There's been a tremendous piling on against Andrew. The liberal media started this tempest in a teapot," he said.

Shirvell wrote a blog devoted to ridiculing University of Michigan student Chris Armstrong as a "pervert" and "Nazi." He even protested outside of the 21-year-old's home. He defended his actions to CNN's Anderson Cooper as free speech and argued that Armstrong was a public figure because he is a student leader.

A county prosecutor declined to issue Armstrong a restraining order against Shirvell, saying that although Shirvell's actions were mean, they did not constitute harassment. The University of Michigan lifted a campuswide ban on Shirvell after he threatened to sue.

(Screenshot of Shirvell from CNN)