A Tennessee man who spent 37 days in jail over Facebook memes about conservative activist Charlie Kirk has reached an $835,000 settlement after filing a First Amendment lawsuit against local officials.
Larry Bushart, a 61-year-old retired police officer, was arrested in September 2025 after sharing posts referencing the assassination of Charlie Kirk. One meme included Donald Trump alongside the phrase “We have to get over it,” referring to comments Trump made after a 2024 school shooting in Iowa.
Authorities claimed the post caused fear inside the community because it referenced a school shooting while Perry County also has a local high school with the same name. Bushart was charged with a felony and held on a $2 million bond before prosecutors later dropped the case entirely.
The arrest quickly gained national attention because, unlike many social media controversies that lead to suspensions or job losses, Bushart’s case involved criminal prosecution over online speech.
According to the lawsuit, Bushart lost his post-retirement job while jailed and missed major family moments, including his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter.
Perry County, its sheriff, and the investigator tied to the arrest have now agreed to pay $835,000 to settle the lawsuit.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which helped represent Bushart, said the case became an important test of free speech protections during politically charged moments.