Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement
The state of Tennessee has agreed to pay $835,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by retired police officer Larry Bushart after he was jailed over Facebook posts and memes related to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The case raised questions about free speech protections under the U.S. Constitution.
Bushart was arrested in Perry County and spent 37 days in jail after authorities accused him of making threats through online posts. Prosecutors later dropped the felony charge, and Bushart filed a lawsuit against the county, sheriff’s office, and investigators involved in his arrest.
During his detention, Bushart said he suffered major personal and professional consequences, including losing a post-retirement job and missing important family events such as his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter. He argued that his arrest violated his First Amendment right to free speech.
Authorities claimed they believed his posts could have caused fear in the community. Nick Weems said investigators thought the memes might be interpreted as threatening, even though they referenced other political commentary and events.
Civil liberties advocates, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, supported Bushart’s case. They said the settlement sends a warning to law enforcement agencies about respecting constitutional free speech protections, especially during politically sensitive situations.
Edited using generative AI tools.
Source: https://fox17.com/news/local/tennessee-man-jailed-over-charlie-kirk-post-wins-835000-settlement |
