this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2025

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382

Man sues cops who jailed him for 37 days for trolling a Charlie Kirk vigil (arstechnica.com)

submitted 4 months ago by technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/news@lemmy.world

19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Larry Bushart, a man who was jailed for 37 days for reposting a Trump meme, has now sued the cops who allegedly schemed to keep him imprisoned for as long as possible simply because they disagreed with his point of view.

top 19 comments

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[–] logicbomb@lemmy.world 96 points 4 months ago (1 children)

For Bushart, the arrest has shaken up his life. As the primary breadwinner, he’s worried about how he will support himself and his wife after losing his job while in jail. The arrest was particularly “humiliating,” his complaint said, “given his former role as a law enforcement officer.” And despite his release, fear of arrest has chilled his speech, impacting how he expresses his views online.

His bail was set at $2 million. I think it would be difficult to say that justice has been done unless the cops, DAs, and judges involved all lose their jobs.

The cops were malicious, yes, but the prosecutors and judges are supposed to have discretion. $2 million for reposting something the President of the United States posted is obviously going too far.

Those guys all need to lose their jobs and Bushart should get a huge payout, much bigger than his $2 million bail. That's the minimum criteria for justice in my opinion.

[–] Iheartcheese@lemmy.world 30 points 4 months ago

That would be nice but I'm willing to bet not a goddamn thing is going to happen to them.

They may even get promotions.

[–] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 64 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Quoting is not trolling. He is entitled to compensation for violating his rights

[–] arrow74@lemmy.zip 12 points 4 months ago

I don't think this is what you were implying, but even if it were trolling that's also still entirely legal

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 57 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Afaik all he did was quote Trump in that meme.

[–] IntrovertTurtle@lemmy.zip 32 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yep, he posted a picture of Trump with Trump's 'get over it' quote after a school shooting in '24. The smooth-brained sheriff (who was promoting the Kirk vigil) had him arrested, claiming the post' incited mass hysteria in the community,' and was a threat to shoot up a school. When interviewed, literally nobody thought that was the case.

Oh and sheriff also had an investigator omit key details from the arrest report that would have have released the guy practically immediately. Plus the guy they arrested was a cop for 30yrs.This sheriff should be barred from any and all law enforcement jobs for the rest of his life. Make him a grocery store cashier or some shit.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 13 points 4 months ago

Make him a grocery store cashier or some shit.

No, prison. These pricks don't deserve to participate in society anymore.

[–] Manjushri@piefed.social 45 points 4 months ago (2 children)

“If police can come to your door in the middle of the night and put you behind bars based on nothing more than an entirely false and contrived interpretation of a Facebook post, no one’s First Amendment rights are safe,” Steinbaugh said.

Much as I hate being on the side of a cop, retired in this case, the sheriff needs to be criminally charged. At minimum this was false arrest and it appears that Weems and Morrow fabricated evidence that there was "mass hysteria" over Bushart's posts.

[–] village604@adultswim.fan 12 points 4 months ago

The prosecutor who agreed to charge him also needs to be charged, as well as the judge who set the $2m bail

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

Yeah, I don't know how being an ex-cop makes his arrest worse per his complaint. I'm pretty sure most people hate getting locked up for speech.

But it's still a bullshit charge that threatens all of us.

[–] dan1101@lemmy.world 35 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Especially now that Rob Reiner was killed and Trump bad-mouthed him. Shows what the MAGA standards are. Like so many bullies they can dish it out but can't take it.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 13 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

That's not even it, MAGA idiots are lying pieces of shit that will degrade anything they don't like with lies no matter how decent and respected.
Charlie Kirk was an evil piece of shit, and the MAGA fascist fanatics can't bear to hear the truth about him.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yup. They've made me gladder Kirk is dead every fucking time they defend him with lies.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago (2 children)

He specifically said that shootings was a cost he was willing to pay for 2nd amendment rights. He just got what he asked for, contrary to most victims.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

Oh I know. It was already enough for me that he spent his whole life lying in the name of hate, then every day for weeks those mother fuckers tried to make him a goddamn martyr and denied dozens of obvious examples of him being a shitbag.

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

He only said that because he never thought he'd be the one paying that price.

Not trying to argue with you, just piling on the Charlie Kirk was a piece of shit train.

[–] DeICEAmerica@lemmy.world 12 points 4 months ago

This pig should be put in prison for decades. It's becoming increasingly clear the only justice We will have going forward is the justice that is served in the streets.

[–] kikutwo@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago

Man hits lottery.

[–] TrojanRoomCoffeePot@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago

If anyone hasn't seen the deluge of memes in question, take a look at the link, they're fucking hilarious. Fuck Charlie Kirk, and fuck Perry County Sheriffs Department's Nick Weems. Here's some more fuel for the fire.