Retired police officer Larry Bushart is being awarded a six-figure settlement after spending 37 days in jail over a Facebook post shared following the death of Charlie Kirk.
Bushart’s lawyer confirmed on Wednesday, May 20, that he agreed to a $835,000 settlement from the sheriff’s office in Perry County, Tennessee, after claiming he lost his post-retirement job, missed his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter while in custody.
“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart, 61, said in a statement obtained by multiple outlets on Wednesday. “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.”
Bushart sparked controversy when he shared memes that joked about Kirk’s assassination along with other political commentary in Facebook posts that he refused to take down.
In late September 2025, Bushart was arrested and charged with a felony, with the sheriff’s department alleging that his posts about the conservative activist could be seen as a threat. (Kirk was fatally shot while appearing at an event at the Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. He was 31.)
One post featured President Donald Trump saying, “We have to get over it,” when reflecting on a school shooting at an Iowa high school in January 2024. “This seems relevant today,” the meme shared by Bushart read.
In a statement to The Tennessean last year, Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems claimed Bushart was “fully aware” of how that specific post would impact the community and was “intentionally” looking to cause chaos.
Another meme accused Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, of spewing hateful rhetoric.
“I played on Facebook,” Bushart told officers, according to a February New York Times article. “I threatened no one.”
Bushart’s bail was set at $2 million and he remained in jail until the charge against him was ultimately dropped in October 2025.
“No one should be hauled off to jail in the dark of night over a harmless meme just because the authorities disagree with its message,” Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, who represented Bushart told the NYT on Wednesday. “We’re pleased that Larry has been compensated for this injustice, but local law enforcement never should have forced him to endure this ordeal in the first place.”
After being released from jail late last year, Bushart filed a lawsuit against the Perry County Sheriff, claiming the department misinterpreted his social media post. This suit was settled on Wednesday.
“I probably needed a new habit, a new hobby,” Bushart joked to the NYT in February, reflecting on his Facebook posts.
