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A Tennessee man who spent more than a month in jail over a Facebook post related to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has reached an $835,000 settlement with local officials after alleging his constitutional rights were violated.
Larry Bushart, a 61-year-old retired law enforcement officer, was arrested in September after sharing a meme on Facebook referencing Kirk's assassination and a past quote attributed to Donald Trump about a school shooting.
Authorities claimed the post was interpreted by some residents as a potential threat to a local school, leading to his arrest on suspicion of "threatening mass violence at a school."
Bushart was held in jail for 37 days after his bail was set at $2 million, which he could not afford. During that time, he lost his post-retirement job and missed major family milestones, including his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter, according to court filings.
The meme at the center of the case included the phrase, "This seems relevant today..." alongside an image of Trump and a quotation reading, "We have to get over it," referring to remarks made after a previous school shooting in Iowa.
After his arrest drew national attention, prosecutors later dropped the felony charge, and Bushart was released. He subsequently filed a federal lawsuit against Perry County, the sheriff's office, and a county investigator, alleging violations of his First Amendment right to free speech as well as unlawful arrest and incarceration.
Under the settlement announced Wednesday, Tennessee officials agreed to pay $835,000 in exchange for Bushart dropping the lawsuit. The county and involved officials did not admit wrongdoing, with the settlement to be covered by the county's insurer.
"I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated," Bushart said in a statement. "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."
His legal team, supported by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, argued that the arrest had long-term consequences beyond jail time, including job loss and a chilling effect on his willingness to engage in political discussions online.
According to court documents, Bushart's lawyers also maintained that the arrest violated both his free speech rights and protections against wrongful prosecution and detention. The case was originally scheduled to go to trial in federal court in Memphis before the settlement was reached.
