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Omaha Steve

(110,016 posts)
Wed May 20, 2026, 11:21 AM Wednesday

Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement

Source: AP

By R.J. RICO
Updated 8:01 AM CDT, May 20, 2026
Leer en español

Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

While many people across the U.S. lost their jobs over social media comments about Kirk’s death, Larry Bushart’s case stood out as a rare instance in which such online speech led 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 jail, Bushart lost his postretirement job and missed his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter, according to a federal lawsuit Bushart filed in December against Perry County, its sheriff and the investigator who obtained the arrest warrant.

“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart said in a statement announcing the settlement Wednesday. “The people’s freedom to participate in civil discourse is crucial to a healthy democracy. I am looking forward to moving on and spending time with my family.”


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-facebook-arrest-tennessee-bushart-b8c5808d77f47a2d93497d12cf0daf84

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Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement (Original Post) Omaha Steve Wednesday OP
Good for him UpInArms Wednesday #1
They think that only people who suck up to Trump have any rights at all Walleye Wednesday #6
They never did understand and/or cared blue-wave Wednesday #25
Good. I cannot believe that put him in jail over this Quiet Em Wednesday #2
Remember when they put some guy in Montana in jail RazorbackExpat Wednesday #8
I don't remember but Quiet Em Wednesday #9
Maybe now he can "get over it". twodogsbarking Wednesday #3
Well, we can't expect the legislators in Tennessee to know anything about the constitution. Walleye Wednesday #4
So, his 'crime' was posting a meme on FB that held a mirror up to Trump telling us to 'get over' school shootings? Attilatheblond Wednesday #5
Talk about lawfare! Blues Heron Wednesday #7
Good. mwmisses4289 Wednesday #10
And now we have a $1,776,000,000 fund for the victims of Trump's lawfare. OGBuzz Wednesday #12
Why go through all the hustles to file claims: They would never get a penny. Justice matters. Wednesday #19
"" AllaN01Bear Wednesday #11
Where was the district attorney? Statelawdog Wednesday #13
Conservatives and maga-types tend to have a blindspot BaronChocula Wednesday #18
The judge is the real culprit here. Hassin Bin Sober Wednesday #28
I hope Perry county goes bankrupt over this fujiyamasan Wednesday #14
If gone to trial, then yes. The Grand Illuminist Wednesday #24
They pretended that he was threatening a school shooting. Pompoy Wednesday #15
They would have had to. ColoringFool Wednesday #16
I'm grateful he was vindicated. Scary that he was charged and held. 58Sunliner Wednesday #17
It ain't the "Tennessee officials" who will pay the $835,000". It is the Tennessee taxpayers. erronis Wednesday #20
+1 dalton99a Wednesday #22
if he lives in perry county i hope he moves the fuck out orleans Wednesday #21
He has to pay taxes on settlement. The Grand Illuminist Wednesday #27
He got bought out. The Grand Illuminist Wednesday #23
Exactly. OldBaldy1701E Yesterday #29
It should have been more than $850,000. NM Grins Wednesday #26
Agree, and the buttholes responsible -- all of them -- should be jailed for at least 37 days. At least! RVN VET71 Yesterday #30
Now THAT is true justice! Martin68 Yesterday #31

UpInArms

(55,399 posts)
1. Good for him
Wed May 20, 2026, 11:42 AM
Wednesday

What they did was a travesty… I guess the MAGAts just don’t understand the constitution and bill of rights

blue-wave

(5,559 posts)
25. They never did understand and/or cared
Wed May 20, 2026, 09:54 PM
Wednesday

that every American has the same rights. They want to be the overlords for the masses. I'm surprised this guy is getting justice in Tennessee of all places.

Quiet Em

(3,033 posts)
2. Good. I cannot believe that put him in jail over this
Wed May 20, 2026, 11:44 AM
Wednesday
The meme Bushart posted that prompted his arrest read: “This seems relevant today...” and featured President Donald Trump and the words, “We have to get over it.” That quote, the meme explained, was said by Trump in 2024 after a school shooting at Iowa’s Perry High School.


https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-facebook-arrest-tennessee-bushart-b8c5808d77f47a2d93497d12cf0daf84

RazorbackExpat

(966 posts)
8. Remember when they put some guy in Montana in jail
Wed May 20, 2026, 11:58 AM
Wednesday

over his comment about a "burning Bush", which was a reference to a famous Bible story, when George the Lesser was occupying the White House?

Walleye

(45,524 posts)
4. Well, we can't expect the legislators in Tennessee to know anything about the constitution.
Wed May 20, 2026, 11:49 AM
Wednesday

They are still fighting a Civil War against it. World War III shouldn’t scare us as much as Civil War II

Attilatheblond

(9,266 posts)
5. So, his 'crime' was posting a meme on FB that held a mirror up to Trump telling us to 'get over' school shootings?
Wed May 20, 2026, 11:49 AM
Wednesday

That is Snowflake taken to subversion of First Amendment by local authorities. Glad they have to pay up.

mwmisses4289

(4,749 posts)
10. Good.
Wed May 20, 2026, 12:34 PM
Wednesday

Now that he has set the example, maybe all the others who were harassed, fired, jailed or otherwise had their first amendment rights trampled over their ck comments will follow suit.

OGBuzz

(646 posts)
12. And now we have a $1,776,000,000 fund for the victims of Trump's lawfare.
Wed May 20, 2026, 12:58 PM
Wednesday

Every federal worker dismissed by Musk's DOUCHE Gang should be making a claim immediately. And when "1776" runs out, Elmo is worth $850,000,000,000.

Justice matters.

(10,091 posts)
19. Why go through all the hustles to file claims: They would never get a penny.
Wed May 20, 2026, 01:30 PM
Wednesday

They did not commit crimes for the mob boss, and most importantly, they WILL not in the future.

Statelawdog

(2 posts)
13. Where was the district attorney?
Wed May 20, 2026, 12:59 PM
Wednesday

The district attorney should have interceded in this case within hours not weeks. Their inaction to stop this obvious violation of civil rights borders on being unethical. The shame is that the individual officers are not being held personally responsible for the money damages. Either an insurance company or the taxpayers are on the hook. Not the individuals responsible.

BaronChocula

(4,771 posts)
18. Conservatives and maga-types tend to have a blindspot
Wed May 20, 2026, 01:17 PM
Wednesday

when it comes to accountability among their own. It's part of why red states come in dead last on so many things.

erronis

(24,554 posts)
20. It ain't the "Tennessee officials" who will pay the $835,000". It is the Tennessee taxpayers.
Wed May 20, 2026, 01:36 PM
Wednesday

And only the taxpayers who actually pay taxes. Not the rich ones who can get out of them.

orleans

(37,210 posts)
21. if he lives in perry county i hope he moves the fuck out
Wed May 20, 2026, 02:28 PM
Wednesday

so he doesn't end up paying taxes that will be paying his settlement.

and i hope all those kirk obsessives / magats are thrilled as shit and think it's totally worth it to be paying that settlement out of their own pockets. ha. ha.

The Grand Illuminist

(2,066 posts)
27. He has to pay taxes on settlement.
Wed May 20, 2026, 10:48 PM
Wednesday

If he stayed the course, he would have had a lot more, plus taxes taken out, legal documentation of liability and accountability.

OldBaldy1701E

(11,575 posts)
29. Exactly.
Thu May 21, 2026, 07:34 AM
Yesterday

Until there are some firings/impeachments, as well as some jail time for those who actively did this...

Well, there is no justice in Perry County.

Which, some of us already knew.

(Our old pickup was from Perry County. It had a Perry County plate on it when we got it. The owners lived there at the time. They moved soon after... of course...)

RVN VET71

(3,226 posts)
30. Agree, and the buttholes responsible -- all of them -- should be jailed for at least 37 days. At least!
Thu May 21, 2026, 07:44 AM
Yesterday

I would also like to see those yokels fined whatever the law allows and never be allowed to work for any government agency or contractor again. Christian-Nationalists should be given no quarter in meting out their punishment.

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