A man has won $835K after spending a month in jail for Charlie Kirk

Apparently, Mr. Weems hoped that the threat of arrest would force Bushart to resign, but Bushart refused to be investigated.

Video The arrest shows that Bushart told the arresting officer that he had never made such a threat, and other officers at the jail appeared confused about the arrest. In one exchange he was caught in the pictures reviewed by The InterceptBushart also joked with another soldier that his arrest seemed ridiculous:

“Just to be clear, this is what they charged you with – Threats of Violence at School,” the Perry County jail official told Bushart.

“At school?” Bushart asked.

“I don’t know,” the officer replied, laughing. “I just have to do what I have to do.”

“I’ve been in Facebook jail, but now I’m in jail,” Bushart said, laughing with him.

Later, Weems admitted that he “knew at the time of his arrest that Larry’s Facebook was a pre-existing meme that referred to actual shootings that took place in other areas, more than 500 miles away,” FIRE said. But they arrested Bushart, violating Bushart’s “constitutional rights in return for his protected speech,” FIRE said.

FIRE identified Bushart as one of 600 individuals Reuters found was punished for making disturbing comments online about Kirk’s death, following a government-sponsored campaign against political speech. Bushart’s victory shows that the First Amendment can stand up to the test, FIRE staff attorney Cary Davis said.

“It’s a time of turmoil and heightened conflict where our commitment to free speech is being tested to the hilt,” Davis said. “When government officials fail the test, the constitution is there to hold them accountable.” Our hope is that Larry’s actions will send a message to government officials across the country: Respect the First Amendment today, or be prepared to pay the price tomorrow.”