A blogger arrested at the Ohio Statehouse for telecommunications harassment spent the night in the Franklin County Jail and was released on bond June 2.
D.J. Byrnes, also known as The Rooster, canceled plans for a post-release press conference at the statehouse on the advice of counsel, said his colleague Max Littman.
Byrnes posts to his subscribers on his Substack. He’s known to confront politicians in the halls of Columbus City Hall, Ohio State University and the Ohio Statehouse.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol arrested him June 1 at the statehouse on an outstanding warrant for a misdemeanor. The warrant was signed by Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Marisa L. Cornachio, who is running for an appeals court seat and has been endorsed by State Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland.
Littman said he believes the case stems from Byrnes texting Cirino a photo of cartoon character Shrek’s penis. The warrant says Byrnes allegedly texted photos to the victim, identified as “J.C.”
Littman shared what he said was a text exchange between Byrnes and Cirino that included a naked Shrek. Cirino’s alleged reply was “I don’t know who this is but I’m certain you’re a moron.”
Cirino declined to comment on the case.
A request for the Kirtland Police Department’s report and witness statements on the case has been submitted.
After his 23-hours in jail, Byrnes issued a brief statement, thanking his supporters and saying “I believe that the facts presented in court will show that I’m innocent of the misdemeanor charge of telecommunications harassment.”
State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@usatodayco.com and @lbischoff on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: ‘I’m innocent.’ Blogger speaks out after arrest at Ohio Statehouse
Reporting by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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