Tennessee Man Settles for $835,000 After Arrest Over Facebook Post

Larry Bushart, a man from Tennessee, spent 37 days in jail following a Facebook post he shared after the killing of Charlie Kirk. He agreed to an $835,000 settlement with the sheriff responsible for his arrest, according to his lawyers.

The incident with Mr. Kirk’s shooting, a well-known conservative activist, in September triggered widespread social media reactions across the United States. This spurred debates on free speech as well as job outcomes like firings and resignations. Larry Bushart was a unique case, being the only person to face felony charges due to his social media activities related to Mr. Kirk’s death.

In his posts, Bushart shared memes criticizing Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, accusing them of spreading hate. He also highlighted previous remarks made by President Trump concerning a school shooting. The Perry County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee claimed these posts suggested Bushart had threatened violence. His bail was initially set at $2 million, and he stayed in jail until the charges were eventually dropped.

“The people’s freedom to participate in civil discourse is crucial to a healthy democracy,” Mr. Bushart stated after the settlement, expressing relief and readiness to focus on family life.

Mr. Bushart, aged 61 and a former law enforcement officer, is not alone in receiving compensation for punitive measures taken against people expressing viewpoints about Kirk’s death.

Earlier, in January, a professor in Tennessee reached a $500,000 settlement with Austin Peay State University and was reinstated in their former position. Similarly, the state of Iowa paid $125,000 to a public defender they had fired and rehired the individual.