A retired Tennessee law enforcement officer who was jailed for more than a month following a Facebook post after the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk has agreed to an $835,000 settlement with Perry County.
Larry Bushart, 61, was arrested in September 2025 and spent 37 days behind bars before authorities dropped the felony charge against him. The arrest followed a meme he posted that read: “This seems relevant today…” alongside an image of Donald Trump and the phrase “We have to get over it,” which Trump used in 2024 after a school shooting at Iowa’s Perry High School.
Bushart filed a federal lawsuit against Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems, alleging that the sheriff’s department willfully misinterpreted his social media comment as threatening mass violence and infringed on his constitutional rights. During his incarceration, Bushart lost his postretirement job and missed significant family milestones, including his granddaughter’s birth and wedding anniversary.
In a statement announcing the settlement, Bushart said: “I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated. The people’s freedom to participate in civil discourse is crucial to a healthy democracy.” The resolution resolves Bushart’s lawsuit with Perry County officials, marking one of few instances where online speech led to criminal prosecution and subsequent compensation for the individual. Sheriff Weems did not respond to requests for comment.
