A Tennessee man who spent 37 days in jail over a Facebook meme about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk has reached an $835,000 settlement with local officials, but the online reaction suggests many Americans see the payout as proof of something much larger than a wrongful arrest.
The case involving retired police officer Larry Bushart exploded across social media after details resurfaced about the post that led to his arrest. Bushart had shared a meme quoting Donald Trump’s controversial “we have to get over it” remark following a 2024 Iowa school shooting, reposting it after Kirk’s assassination in 2025.
As reported by APNews, authorities in Perry County claimed residents feared the post was connected to a threat against Perry County High School in Tennessee, despite acknowledging the meme referenced the Iowa shooting.
Charges were eventually dropped, but the backlash has only intensified after news broke that Tennessee officials agreed to settle Bushart’s federal lawsuit for $835,000.
Much of the public outrage centered on one issue: taxpayers footing the bill.
Over on the r/law subreddit, a user commented: “Tennessee taxpayers will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed.”
Others argued that the settlement changes little if the sheriff, investigators, and judge involved face no personal consequences.
“But it doesn’t cost law enforcement anything,” another commenter wrote. “The taxpayers are on the hook.”
Critics Say the Case Exposed a Double Standard on Free Speech
The case quickly evolved into a wider political debate, with critics accusing conservative leaders of embracing free speech only when it benefits their side politically.
Many pointed to years of inflammatory memes and violent political imagery shared online without arrests or criminal charges. Bushart’s supporters argued that merely reposting Trump’s own words should never have resulted in felony charges or a staggering $2 million bail.
“Crazy that quoting the president gets Americans arrested these days,” one reaction read.
Others focused on what they viewed as hypocrisy surrounding conservative outrage over speech policing in other countries.
“I was told only lawless hellscapes like England arrest people for Facebook posts?” another commenter wrote sarcastically.
The settlement also reignited criticism of local leadership in Tennessee, with many arguing voters continue re-electing officials despite expensive legal payouts tied to constitutional violations.
“Vote out the people that allowed that to happen,” one user wrote, while another responded even more harshly: “Americans suck at democracy.”
Some commenters said the case demonstrated how settlements often fail to create meaningful reform because they avoid legal precedent and shield officials from direct accountability.
Bushart, meanwhile, said in a statement that he was pleased his First Amendment rights had been vindicated and that he looks forward to moving on with his family after the ordeal.
Even so, online reactions suggest many Americans see the case less as a legal victory and more as a warning sign about politics, policing, and free speech in modern America.
