Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement

[Just_Vote_Dem]

Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

While many people across the U.S. lost their jobs over social media comments about Kirk’s death, Larry Bushart’s case stood out as a rare instance in which such online speech led to criminal prosecution. The 61-year-old retired police officer spent 37 days behind bars before authorities dropped the felony charge against him in October.

During his time in jail, Bushart lost his postretirement job and missed his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter, according to a federal lawsuit Bushart filed in December against Perry County, its sheriff and the investigator who obtained the arrest warrant.

“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart said in a statement announcing the settlement 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.”

More at https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-facebook-arrest-tennessee-bushart-b8c5808d77f47a2d93497d12cf0daf84

[Renew Deal]

1. Does he qualify for money from Trumps slush fund?

[intheflow]

3. Why would he?

He didn't storm the Capital.

[EdmondDantes_]

2. Sadly this isn't going to result in a number of people going to jail

The sheriff, the judge who signed off on the warrant, the judge who held him in jail after a bail hearing, the prosecutor who went into court for this. Every single one of them needs to go to jail.

[MustLoveBeagles]

6. No but it should

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

4. Good

[twodogsbarking]

5. I'm thinking of a yard sign that says "we just have to get over it" to put on my lawn when a certain someone joins Kirk.

[Passages]

7. So happy to see this justice.