Tennessee man wins $835,000 settlement after jailed for Trump meme
Original: Victory: Tennessee man jailed 37 days for Trump meme wins $835,000 settlement
Why This Matters
Case highlights ongoing tensions over social media speech and government overreach
Larry Bushart, retired Tennessee law enforcement officer, won $835,000 settlement after spending 37 days in jail for posting a Trump meme on Facebook. FIRE lawsuit claimed First Amendment violation by Perry County officials.
Larry Bushart was arrested in September 2025 after sharing a Facebook meme that quoted Trump's "We have to get over it" statement following Charlie Kirk's assassination. The meme referenced Perry High School in Iowa, but Sheriff Nick Weems obtained a warrant claiming it threatened Perry County High School in Tennessee. Bushart spent 37 days in jail before the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Weems, Investigator Jason Morrow, and Perry County. The settlement was announced in a joint statement, with Bushart stating his First Amendment rights have been vindicated.