Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement
Tennessee authorities will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man sentenced to more than a month in prison for a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Many people across the USA Lost his job because of social media comments The case of Larry Bushart in Kirk’s death stood out as a rare example of such online conversation leading to criminal prosecution. The 61-year-old retired police officer spent 37 days behind bars before authorities dropped the felony charge against him in October.
During his time in prison, Bushart lost his post-retirement job, missed his wedding anniversary and the birth of his grandson, according to the federal lawsuit filed in December against the Perry County sheriff and the investigator who obtained the warrant.
“I am pleased to have my First Amendment rights affirmed,” Bushart said in a statement announcing the settlement on Wednesday. “The public’s freedom to engage in civil discourse is crucial to a healthy democracy. I look forward to moving on and spending time with my family.”
Bushart was arrested in September after he refused to remove Facebook memes joking about Kirk’s killing; This caused outrage among conservatives, including in Perry County, near Bushart’s home, which held a candlelight vigil.
The meme that led to Bushart’s arrest included the words: “This seems relevant today…” and President Donald Trump saying, “We need to get through this.” This quote, the meme explains, was said by Trump after a speech in 2024. School shooting at Perry High School in Iowa.
Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems told news outlets that many of Bushart’s “hate memes” are legal free speech, although Weems said he knew the meme was in reference to a school in Iowa residents were alarmed by the school shooting because they feared Bushart was threatening a local school, also called Perry County High School.
“Investigators believe Bushart was fully aware of the fear his mission would cause and was deliberately trying to create hysteria within the community,” Weems said. from tennessee last year.
After the case attracted national attention, Bushart’s bail was set at $2 million before his release.
“It is in times of turmoil and increasing tension that our national resolve for free speech is most tested,” said Cary Davis, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which is helping represent Bushart. “When government officials fail that test, the Constitution exists to hold them accountable. Our hope is that Larry’s deal sends a message to law enforcement across the country: Respect the First Amendment today or be prepared to pay the price tomorrow.”
