A Tennessee man who spent more than a month in jail over Facebook posts about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk will receive $835,000 after settling a lawsuit against local officials.
61-year-old Larry Bushart is a retired police officer and was jailed for 37 days before prosecutors dropped a felony charge linked to social media memes he posted following Kirk’s death.
Tennessee officials will now pay $835,000 to resolve Bushart’s federal lawsuit against Perry County, the local sheriff and an investigator involved in obtaining the arrest warrant.
Bushart said the time in custody had a personal and financial impact. He lost his post-retirement job, missed his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter while behind bars.
“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart said in a statement announcing the settlement Wednesday.
He added: “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.”
Background of the Arrest
Bushart was arrested in September after refusing to remove Facebook memes that referenced Kirk’s killing, which had triggered mourning among MAGA supporters of the conservative activist. Authorities said the posts caused concern in the local community.
One meme shared by Bushart featured an image of President Donald Trump alongside the words, “We have to get over it.” The image referenced Trump’s 2024 comments following a school shooting in Iowa. The meme explained the quote was made “one day after” the incident.
Bushart added the caption: “This seems relevant today...”
The controversy escalated after some residents misinterpreted the post as a possible threat to a local school with a similar name in Tennessee. Police later confirmed the meme referred to an Iowa school shooting, not the Tennessee school.
Sheriff's Statement
Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems said at the time that most of Bushart’s posts were protected speech, but the specific meme caused alarm in the community.
“Investigators believe Bushart was fully aware of the fear his post would cause and intentionally sought to create hysteria within the community,” Weems said in a statement to The Tennessean last year.
Bushart was initially held on a $2 million bail before being released as the case attracted scrutiny over free speech protections.
Charlie Kirk's Assassination
Charlie Kirk was assassinated on 10 September 2025 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, when a gunman fired a single shot using a sniper from a rooftop about 140 metres away, killing him during a public event. His wife Erika Kirk later made emotional public remarks, while Turning Point USA continued operations after his death.
