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Retired officer secures $835,000 settlement after wrongful detention
Larry Bushart, a former police officer from Tennessee, has reached an $835,000 (£621,000) settlement in a lawsuit alleging unlawful incarceration following his arrest over a Facebook post related to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Arrest and incarceration
Bushart was detained last September by the Perry County Sheriff's Office after sharing a meme in an online discussion about a vigil for Kirk, who was fatally shot at an outdoor event in Utah. The post included a partial quote from former President Donald Trump-"We have to get over it"-alongside the caption, "Seems relevant today."
Sheriff Nick Weems claimed the meme alarmed local residents because a nearby school shared the name of the Iowa school referenced in Trump's original 2024 statement, which was made in the aftermath of a school shooting. Weems stated that investigators believed Bushart intended to incite fear in the community.
Bushart spent 37 days in jail after being unable to post a $2 million (£1.5 million) bond. During his detention, he lost his post-retirement job and missed the birth of his grandchild.
Legal battle and settlement
The lawsuit, filed against Perry County, Sheriff Weems, and county investigator Jason Morrow, accused officials of violating Bushart's First Amendment right to free speech and his Fourth Amendment protection against wrongful arrest and prosecution.
A trial had been scheduled for July in Memphis before the settlement was announced on Wednesday.
"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. I am looking forward to moving on and spending time with my family."
Larry Bushart
Broader context
Bushart is one of dozens of Americans who faced consequences-ranging from online backlash to job loss-for social media comments about Kirk's killing. However, he appears to be the only individual jailed over such a post.
The BBC has reached out to Perry County for comment but has not yet received a response.
