Ohio Journalist Faces Trial Over Shrek Penis Image Sent to GOP Lawmaker
Ohio political blogger D.J. Byrnes faces trial over alleged harassment involving a digitally altered Shrek image sent to a GOP lawmaker.
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An Ohio political blogger is set to go on trial for allegedly sending a digitally altered image of Shrek with an erect penis to a Republican state senator. D.J. Byrnes, 39, publisher of the Ohio political newsletter The Rooster, faces up to six months in prison if convicted of telecommunications harassment.
The incident began after State Sen. Jerry Cirino withdrew his bid to become president of the Ohio Senate. Byrnes, a self-described leftist who referred to Cirino as ‘Young Mussolini,’ allegedly sent a taunting message celebrating the senator’s political setback. ‘Good to see you finally made your humiliation public, Young Mussolini. THE PATRIOTS CAUCUS sends its regards!!!!!!!!!!!’ Byrnes wrote, according to court filings.
Cirino responded with disbelief, stating, ‘I don’t know who this is but I am certain you are a moron.’ Byrnes then allegedly sent the senator a digitally altered image of Shrek fully nude with an exposed and erect penis. Cirino reported the incident to police, describing the image as ‘disgusting’ and ‘pornographic in nature,’ and requested charges be brought against the sender.
Byrnes was arrested at the Ohio Statehouse on June 1 by four state troopers and held for nearly 24 hours. He later turned his mugshot into merchandise with the slogan ‘never surrender.’ Byrnes rejected two plea deals that would have allowed him to avoid jail and chose to proceed to trial with a jury.
His defense argues that the messages constitute constitutionally protected political mockery rather than criminal harassment. ‘This case does not involve repeated telephone calls to a private citizen,’ his lawyers argued in a motion seeking dismissal. ‘It does not involve threats, extortion, stalking, soliciting sex, or attempts to invade another person’s privacy.’
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has also supported Byrnes, asserting that political ridicule of an elected official is protected under the First Amendment. However, a judge denied Byrnes’s motion to dismiss the prosecution in August.
Cirino, meanwhile, expressed anticipation for the jury to see the image. ‘I can’t wait for the jury to see the image that he sent to me,’ he recently said. If convicted of the first-degree misdemeanor, Byrnes faces a maximum of six months in prison.
He was jailed for texting an image of Shrek’s dick to a politician.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
