Larry Bushart, a Tennessee resident, was jailed for 37 days after sharing a Facebook post following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Bushart has now reached an $835,000 settlement with the sheriff responsible for his arrest, according to his lawyers.

The shooting of Mr. Kirk in September sparked widespread social media discussions, leading to various consequences such as job terminations and resignations, along with debates on free speech limits. Among those affected, Bushart was the only one charged with a felony for his online comments about the incident.

His posts included memes accusing Mr. Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, of spreading hatred, alongside past remarks by President Trump regarding school shootings. The Perry County Sheriff’s office alleged Bushart’s posts posed a threat of violence, setting his bail at $2 million. Bushart remained in jail until the charges were eventually dismissed.

Following the settlement, Bushart expressed relief at being vindicated. He stated, “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.” Bushart, aged 61 and a retired law enforcement officer, is not alone in receiving compensation after facing repercussions for his comments on Mr. Kirk’s death.

In a related case, a professor at Austin Peay State University secured a $500,000 settlement with the university in January, along with reinstatement to his position. Similarly, Iowa agreed to reinstate and compensate a public defender with an $125,000 payment after she was dismissed due to her statements.