Officials in Tennessee have agreed to pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit involving Larry Bushart, a man jailed for over a month due to a Facebook post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. This case stands out because, although many faced job losses nationwide over social media comments regarding Kirk, Bushart’s situation led to criminal charges. The 61-year-old retired officer spent 37 days incarcerated before the charges were dropped in October.
During his time in jail, Bushart experienced multiple personal losses, missing out on his postretirement job, wedding anniversary, and his granddaughter’s birth. He filed a federal lawsuit in December against Perry County, the sheriff, and the investigating officer behind his arrest.
“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart stated upon announcing the settlement. He emphasized the importance of free speech in democratic discourse and shared his readiness to focus on family life.
Perry County Mayor, John Carroll, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bushart faced arrest in September after refusing to take down a meme related to Kirk’s death, which drew significant conservative grief, especially in Perry County.
The contentious meme featured Trump with a caption about moving past tragedies, citing a fictional school shooting. Authorities in Perry County, wary that local residents might confuse the reference with their own Perry County High School, took action. Sheriff Nick Weems asserted Bushart chose to incite panic deliberately, although the school in question was in Iowa, not locally.
Bushart’s bail was set at $2 million before his release, a case that gained nationwide attention. Cary Davis, a lawyer for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, remarked on the significance of free speech especially during times of social unrest. Davis emphasized the Constitution’s role in holding officials accountable, expressing hope that Bushart’s settlement serves as a reminder to law enforcement to respect First Amendment rights.