Perry County Pays $835K to Settle Lawsuit Over 37-Day Detention for Trump Meme
Perry County man wrongfully jailed for 37 days over a Trump meme wins major settlement after First Amendment lawsuit.
LINDEN, TENNESSEE — Perry County has agreed to pay $835,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a man who was wrongfully jailed for 37 days after posting a meme about President Donald Trump on Facebook.
Larry Bushart was arrested by Perry County Sheriff’s Office deputies in September after he posted a meme in a Facebook thread about a vigil honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who had been shot and killed. The meme included the quote “seems relevant today” along with a picture of Trump and text stating “We have to get over it,” attributed to “President Donald Trump, one day after the Perry High School mass shooting.”
The meme referenced a 2024 school shooting in Perry High School in Iowa, not the Perry County High School in Tennessee. However, sheriff’s deputies arrested Bushart, claiming the meme was “threatening a mass shooting” at the local school.
$2 Million Bond Set
Bushart’s bond was set at $2 million, an amount he could not afford, keeping him detained for more than a month. Prosecutors eventually dropped the charges against Bushart five weeks later after the incident gained national media attention.
Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems later admitted to NewsChannel 5 that he knew the meme referenced the Iowa shooting, even if the public didn’t understand the distinction.
First Amendment Victory
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a First Amendment rights organization, represented Bushart in his federal lawsuit against Sheriff Weems and Perry County.
“No one should be hauled off to jail in the dark of night over a harmless meme just because the authorities disagree with its message,” said Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney with FIRE. “Local law enforcement never should have forced him to endure this ordeal in the first place.”
The case highlights concerns about law enforcement’s understanding of protected speech under the First Amendment. Legal experts noted that political memes and commentary, even when controversial, generally receive strong constitutional protection.
Community Impact
The arrest occurred during a period of heightened emotions following Kirk’s death, which had sparked various reactions in communities across the country. Kirk was honored in multiple locations for his conservative activism before his killing.
The settlement amount reflects the significant constitutional violations alleged in the case. Civil rights attorneys often point to such settlements as evidence that law enforcement agencies must receive better training on First Amendment protections, particularly regarding social media posts and political commentary.
The case drew national attention to rural Tennessee law enforcement practices and raised questions about the appropriate response to social media content that local officials find objectionable but that may be protected speech.
