Retired police officer jailed for 37 days over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement
Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
TL;DR
- Larry Bushart, a retired police officer, was jailed for 37 days over a Facebook post.
- The post involved memes joking about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- Bushart filed a lawsuit against Perry County, its sheriff, and the investigator, alleging violation of his First Amendment rights.
- He lost his postretirement job and missed significant family events during his incarceration.
- Officials stated that while most of Bushart's memes were lawful, the school shooting post caused alarm, though the sheriff knew it referred to a school in Iowa.
- The settlement amount is $835,000.
- Attorneys involved stated the settlement sends a message to law enforcement to respect the First Amendment.