Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement
Larry Bushart, a Tennessee man, received an $835,000 settlement after being jailed for 37 days due to a Facebook post about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. His case highlighted the tension between free speech and public safety, as local officials expressed concern over the potential threat posed by his post. Bushart's arrest and subsequent legal battle have sparked discussions about the limits of free expression in the digital age.
- ▪Larry Bushart was jailed for 37 days over a Facebook post related to Charlie Kirk's assassination.
- ▪He received an $835,000 settlement from Tennessee officials after filing a lawsuit.
- ▪Bushart lost his job and missed significant family events during his time in jail.
9 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 7 hours. Coverage spans 2 points on the political spectrum — 4 lean left, 3 centre.
- ▪ $835,000 settlement reached after Tennessee man jailed for Kirk-related Facebook posts — Quartz
- ▪ Man thrown in jail for 37 days over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement — CBS News — Top
- ▪ Man jailed over Charlie Kirk post awarded $835K settlement — The Hill
- ▪ Retired officer jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement — CBS News — US
- ▪ Man wins $835K after sheriff jailed him for a month over Charlie Kirk post — Ars Technica - All content
- ▪ Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement - AP News — Google News
- ▪ Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement — ABC News — Top
- ▪ He Was Jailed Over a Charlie Kirk Post. The Sheriff Now Owes Him $835,000. — NYT > Top Stories
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — World |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/20/settlement-man-jailed-charlie-kirk-post |
| Publication time | Wed, 20 May 2026 20:26:11 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-20T20:35:03.014Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-20T20:35:03.014Z |
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| Cluster | GEevaG4k2ZJA · 9 stories |
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Larry Bushart. Photograph: LadyJay Creations LLCView image in fullscreenLarry Bushart. Photograph: LadyJay Creations LLCCharlie Kirk shootingTennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlementLarry Bushart was jailed for 37 days over a Facebook post after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie KirkAssociated PressWed 20 May 2026 16.26 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleTennessee 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 US 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…
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