A Tennessee man who spent more than a month in jail over Facebook memes tied to the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has reached an $835,000 settlement with local officials after a case that sparked national debate around free speech rights.
Larry Bushart, a 61-year-old retired police officer, was arrested in September 2025 after posting memes about Kirk’s assassination in a Facebook comment section connected to a local vigil in Perry County, Tennessee. Authorities claimed one of the posts caused fear in the community and suggested violence toward a nearby high school. Prosecutors later dropped the felony charge, and Bushart sued Perry County, Sheriff Nick Weems, and the investigator who secured the arrest warrant, according to AP News.
How The Arrest Happened
According to court filings and statements from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the meme at the center of the case featured Donald Trump alongside the phrase “We have to get over it,” referencing Trump’s reaction to the 2024 Perry High School shooting in Iowa. Bushart added the caption, “This seems relevant today…” after Kirk’s killing.
Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems acknowledged the meme referenced the Iowa school shooting, but investigators argued residents could interpret it as a threat against Perry County High School in Tennessee. Bushart was arrested on a felony charge related to threatening mass violence and held on a $2 million bond.
During his 37 days in jail, Bushart lost his post-retirement transportation job and missed both his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter, according to the lawsuit.
Settlement Ends High-Profile First Amendment Case
On Wednesday, attorneys announced the county agreed to pay Bushart $835,000 to settle the federal lawsuit.
“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.”
Cary Davis, an attorney with FIRE, said the settlement should serve as a warning to law enforcement agencies nationwide.
“It’s in times of turmoil and heightened tensions that our national commitment to free speech is tested the most,” Davis said. “When government officials fail that test, the Constitution exists to hold them accountable.”
