Tennessee Man's Felony Charge Dropped After Facebook Post Sparks Controversy

Fri Dec 05 2025 06:41:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Larry Bushart faced jail time for a meme related to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, but authorities have now dropped the charges, raising questions about free speech.

Larry Bushart, a 61-year-old former law enforcement officer in Tennessee, had been jailed for over a month for a Facebook post referencing the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He was charged with threatening mass violence at a school, but the charge was dropped by prosecutors. The case has sparked debate around free speech and community safety, with law enforcement asserting that Bushart intended to incite fear among the public. After his release, Bushart expressed relief at returning home.

Authorities in Tennessee have dropped a felony charge against Larry Bushart, a 61-year-old former law enforcement officer who spent over a month in jail due to a controversial Facebook post about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

While many individuals across the U.S. have lost their jobs for social media comments regarding Kirk's death, Bushart’s case gained attention as a significant example of how online speech can lead to criminal prosecution.

Bushart's arrest stemmed from a meme he shared featuring President Donald Trump alongside the caption, “We have to get over it.” This was in reference to comments Trump made following a school shooting that took place at Iowa’s Perry High School. The sheriff of Perry County, Nick Weems, indicated that locals were alarmed by the post, perceiving it as a threat to their own schools, despite Bushart's clear reference to an incident outside their jurisdiction.

Weems defended the arrest, stating, 'Investigators believe Bushart was fully aware of the fear his post would cause and intentionally sought to create hysteria within the community.' This statement has further fueled discussions among free speech advocates who view Bushart's case as a potential infringement on rights.

After spending more than five weeks behind bars, Bushart was released when prosecutors dismissed the charge, with neither the sheriff’s office nor the local district attorney providing immediate comments about why the case was dropped. Very happy to be going home, he told reporters following his release, emphasizing that he never intended to become a media figure through this incident.