Tennessee Man Held on $2 Million Bond After Posting Trump Meme
A 61-year-old Tennessee man is being held on a $2 million bond after being arrested and charged with threatening mass violence at a local high school, despite authorities admitting the online post in question did not explicitly mention the school or contain a direct threat.
Larry Bushart, of Lexington, Tennessee, was taken into custody on September 21st following a warrant issued in Perry County. The arrest stems from a meme Bushart posted referencing a quote from former President Donald Trump regarding a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, where two people were killed and six injured earlier this year. Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems stated the meme, which included the caption “This seems relevant today,” led some community members to believe Bushart was planning an attack on Perry County High School, which had recently addressed a separate threat from a student. “This has everything to do with a guy coming onto a Perry County page posting this picture leading people in our community to believe that there was a hypothetical Perry County High School shooting that caused fear in our community – and we done something about it,” Sheriff Weems said.
Free speech advocates are raising concerns about potential overreach by law enforcement, noting the meme did not specifically name Perry County High School. Chris Eargle, who created a “Justice for Larry Bushart” Facebook page, stated, “No one even mentioned it…A reasonable person could not possibly interpret that as a threat.” The case highlights the growing legal complexities surrounding online speech and perceived threats, particularly in the wake of increased school safety concerns. Bushart himself told officers during his arrest, “I don’t think I committed a crime…I may have been an asshole.”
Sheriff Weems defended the arrest, stating Bushart could have de-escalated the situation by deleting the post and that a 2024 Tennessee state law supports the action taken. He also indicated the arrest was approved by the District Attorney’s office and a judicial commissioner. Bushart’s attorney has filed a motion to reduce the bond, with a hearing scheduled for December 4th. You can find more information about Tennessee state laws regarding threats here and learn about school safety resources from the National Center for School Safety.
Authorities continue to investigate, and the District Attorney’s office has not yet issued a public statement regarding the case.
