Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk assassination post settles for $835,000

Tennessee authorities have agreed to a $835,000 settlement to resolve a lawsuit brought by a man who was jailed for over a month following a Facebook post concerning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Legal Fallout from a Viral Meme

NBC News reported that Larry Bushart, a 61-year-old retired police officer, spent 37 days in custody in October 2025. He faced felony charges sparked by a meme he shared on social media regarding Kirk's killing. The arrest followed Bushart’s refusal to delete the post, which had been shared on a page advertising a vigil for Kirk in Perry County, Tennessee.

The meme in question featured an image of President Donald Trump alongside the text, "we have to get over it." The phrase referenced a 2024 school shooting in Iowa that claimed the lives of an 11-year-old student and the school principal. The meme was topped with the caption, "This seems relevant today."

Arrest and Incarceration

According to People, Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems alleged that some interpreted the post as a threat directed at Perry County High School. After Bushart declined to remove the content, he was arrested on charges of threatening mass violence at a school and held on a $2 million bond.

Bushart remained behind bars until the charges were dropped in October 2025. According to the lawsuit, the ordeal caused significant personal loss, including the forfeiture of his post-retirement job, missing his wedding anniversary, and failing to be present for the birth of his granddaughter.

Settlement Reached

The lawsuit named both Sheriff Weems and an investigator as defendants. During the legal proceedings, 205focus.com notes that Bushart was represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a group dedicated to defending First Amendment rights.