Tennessee Man Jailed for Trump Meme Wins $835,000 Settlement
Retired Tennessee law enforcement officer Larry Bushart was jailed for 37 days after sharing a Facebook meme quoting Donald Trump’s “We have to get over it” remark about a school shooting in Perry, Iowa. Sheriff Nick Weems obtained an arrest warrant falsely claiming the meme threatened Perry County High School in Tennessee. Bushart was held on $2 million bond, lost his job, and missed family milestones. After national outrage, he filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with FIRE and received an $835,000 settlement, vindicating First Amendment protections for political speech.
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Tennessee Man Jailed 37 Days for Trump Meme Wins $835,000 Settlement
Larry Bushart, a retired Tennessee law enforcement officer, was awarded $835,000 in a settlement after spending 37 days in jail for sharing a meme that quoted Donald Trump's statement 'We have to get over it' following a school shooting. The meme, which Bushart did not create, referenced a 2024 school shooting in Perry, Iowa, but Sheriff Nick Weems and Investigator Jason Morrow obtained an arrest warrant claiming it could be a threat against Perry County High School in Tennessee. Weems later admitted knowing the meme referred to an Iowa shooting but omitted this context from the warrant. Bushart was held on a $2 million bond and released only after national outrage. He lost his post-retirement job, missed his anniversary, and the birth of his grandchild. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) represented him in a federal civil rights lawsuit, resulting in the settlement.
Reason.comTennessee Man Jailed 37 Days for Trump Meme Wins $835,000 Settlement
Larry Bushart, a retired Tennessee law enforcement officer, was jailed for 37 days after sharing a Facebook meme that accurately quoted Donald Trump's statement following a school shooting. The meme referenced a 2024 shooting in Perry, Iowa, but Sheriff Nick Weems and Investigator Jason Morrow obtained an arrest warrant claiming it could be a threat against Perry County High School in Tennessee, omitting the Iowa context. Bushart was held on a $2 million bond and lost his post-retirement job, missed his anniversary, and the birth of his grandchild. After his case went viral, he was released and filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). The parties announced a joint settlement of $835,000, with Bushart dismissing the complaint. FIRE stated the case vindicated First Amendment protections for political speech.
Reason.comTennessee Man Jailed 37 Days for Trump Meme Wins $835,000 Settlement
Larry Bushart, a retired Tennessee law enforcement officer, was jailed for 37 days after sharing a Facebook meme quoting Donald Trump's statement 'We have to get over it' following a school shooting. The meme referenced a 2024 shooting in Perry, Iowa, but Sheriff Nick Weems obtained an arrest warrant claiming it threatened Perry County High School in Tennessee. Weems later admitted knowing the meme referred to a different state. Bushart was held on a $2 million bond, lost his post-retirement job, missed his anniversary and grandchild's birth. He filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). The parties announced a joint settlement of $835,000, with Bushart dismissing the complaint. The case highlights First Amendment protections for political speech and retaliation by law enforcement.
Reason.comTennessee Man Jailed 37 Days for Trump Meme Wins $835,000 Settlement
Larry Bushart, a retired Tennessee law enforcement officer, was jailed for 37 days after sharing a Facebook meme that accurately quoted Donald Trump's statement following a school shooting. The meme referenced a 2024 shooting in Perry, Iowa, but Sheriff Nick Weems and Investigator Jason Morrow obtained an arrest warrant claiming it could be a threat against Perry County High School in Tennessee, omitting the Iowa context. Bushart was held on a $2 million bond and lost his post-retirement job, missed his anniversary, and the birth of his grandchild. After his case went viral, he was released and sued with help from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). The parties announced a joint settlement of $835,000, with Bushart dismissing his federal civil rights complaint. FIRE hailed the settlement as a victory for First Amendment rights and free political speech.
Reason.comTennessee Man Jailed 37 Days for Trump Meme Wins $835,000 Settlement
Larry Bushart, a retired Tennessee law enforcement officer, was jailed for 37 days after sharing a Facebook meme that accurately quoted Donald Trump's statement following a school shooting. The meme referenced a 2024 shooting in Perry, Iowa, but Sheriff Nick Weems and Investigator Jason Morrow obtained an arrest warrant claiming it could be a threat against Perry County High School in Tennessee, omitting the Iowa context. Bushart was held on a $2 million bond and lost his post-retirement job, missed his anniversary, and the birth of his grandchild. After his case went viral, he was released and filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). The parties announced a joint settlement of $835,000, with Bushart dismissing the complaint. FIRE stated the case vindicated First Amendment protections for political speech.
Reason.com