{"id":2123,"date":"2026-05-20T20:40:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/20\/tennessee-man-jailed-over-charlie-kirk-post-wins-835000-settlement\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T20:40:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:40:48","slug":"tennessee-man-jailed-over-charlie-kirk-post-wins-835000-settlement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=2123","title":{"rendered":"Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"d0ad4189-c419-4b51-8e5c-806070a4cfd8\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Man in a blue checked shirt sits on a dark sofa looking at the camera\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/6e79f2033de991b3bcaf44a9a30e0ebaf1067fc5\/85_0_1550_1030\/master\/1550.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"309\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Larry Bushart.<\/span> Photograph: LadyJay Creations LLC<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"d0ad4189-c419-4b51-8e5c-806070a4cfd8\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Larry Bushart.<\/span> Photograph: LadyJay Creations LLC<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Larry Bushart was jailed for 37 days over a Facebook post after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/tennessee\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Tennessee<\/a> officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/facebook\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Facebook<\/a> post he made about the assassination of conservative activist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/charlie-kirk-shooting\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Charlie Kirk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/ng-interactive\/2026\/feb\/17\/people-fired-punished-posting-charlie-kirk-death\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">many people across the US lost their jobs<\/a> over social media comments about Kirk\u2019s death, Larry Bushart\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">During his time in jail, Bushart lost his post-retirement job and missed his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter, according to a federal lawsuit Bushart filed in December against Tennessee\u2019s Perry county, its sheriff and the investigator who obtained the arrest warrant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cI am pleased my first amendment rights [to free speech] have been vindicated,\u201d Bushart said in a statement announcing the settlement on Wednesday. \u201cThe people\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Perry county mayor, John Carroll, did not immediately respond to a message left on Wednesday with his office seeking an interview.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Bushart was arrested in September after he refused to take down Facebook memes that joked about Kirk\u2019s killing, which had prompted an outpouring of grief among conservatives, including in Perry county. The county, near Bushart\u2019s home, held a candlelight vigil.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The meme Bushart posted that prompted his arrest read \u201cThis seems relevant today \u2026 \u201d and featured <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a> and the words: \u201cWe have to get over it.\u201d That quote, the meme explained, came from the president, who said it in 2024 after a shooting at a high school in Perry, Iowa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Perry county sheriff, Nick Weems, told news outlets that most of Bushart\u2019s \u201chate memes\u201d were lawful free speech. But residents were alarmed by the school shooting post, fearing Bushart was threatening a local school called Perry county high school, even though Weems said he knew the meme referred to a school in Iowa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cInvestigators believe Bushart was fully aware of the fear his post would cause and intentionally sought to create hysteria within the community,\u201d Weems said in a statement to the Tennessean newspaper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Bushart\u2019s bail was set at $2m before he was released as the case drew national attention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cIt\u2019s in times of turmoil and heightened tensions that our national commitment to free speech is tested the most,\u201d said Cary Davis, an attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which helped represent Bushart. \u201cWhen government officials fail that test, the constitution exists to hold them accountable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cOur hope is that Larry\u2019s settlement sends a message to law enforcement across the country: respect the first amendment today, or be prepared to pay the price tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/tennessee\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Tennessee<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/charlie-kirk-shooting\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Charlie Kirk shooting<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/law\/us-constitution-and-civil-liberties\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US constitution and civil liberties<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-police\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US policing<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-justice-system\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US justice system<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/law\/law-us\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Law (US)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Tennessee%20man%20jailed%20over%20Charlie%20Kirk%20post%20wins%20%24835,000%20settlement&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/20\/settlement-man-jailed-charlie-kirk-post?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F20%2Fsettlement-man-jailed-charlie-kirk-post&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/20\/settlement-man-jailed-charlie-kirk-post\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Larry Bushart. Photograph: LadyJay Creations LLC View image in fullscreen Larry Bushart. Photograph: LadyJay Creations LLC Tennessee man<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2125,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2123\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}