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D.J. Byrnes, a political blogger from Columbus, Ohio, who runs a progressive newsletter called The Rooster, faces trial in municipal court after being accused of sending obscene messages, including an image of Shrek with a digitally altered penis engaged in masturbation, to state senator Jerry Cirino. Cirino reported the incident to police in May, claiming harassment; Byrnes has pleaded not guilty and argues that his actions are protected under free speech.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
D.J. Byrnes, who runs The Rooster, a progressive Substack newsletter, is set to stand trial on September 21 in Kirtland Municipal Court after being accused by Jerry Cirino, an Ohio state senator from the Republican Party, of sending obscene text messages. In May, Cirino reported receiving three texts from Byrnes that included an image of Shrek's exposed penis. Byrnes argues these texts are protected under free speech, while Cirino claims they were offensive and harassing. The case highlights tensions between political commentary and legal definitions of harassment in online communication.
Written for “Shrek Penis Text Trial” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but 2 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 2 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 66319: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-08
An Ohio political blogger is set to stand trial after allegedly sending a state senator an obscene image of the cartoon ogre Shrek with his penis exposed.
uncertain
penis → set → ogre
Jerry Cirino, a Republican who represents Ohio’s 18th district, notified police in May about three text messages he said he had received from D.J. Byrnes, who runs The Rooster, a progressive Substack newsletter.
uncertain
who → represent → Rooster
Byrnes, 39, of Columbus, has pleaded not guilty to telecommunications harassment, which is a misdemeanor.
asserted
which → plead → harassment
He is scheduled to stand trial in municipal court Thursday, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
asserted
Dispatch → schedule → court
Byrnes argues that the texts he sent Cirino are constitutionally protected free speech, while Cirino says they were “offensive” and “harassing.”
“I can’t wait for the jury to see the image that he sent me,” Cirino told the Dispatch.
asserted
Cirino → argue → me
The texts Byrnes sent include political commentary — and refer to Cirino as “young Mussolini,” a nickname the blogger has often used for the politician, Signal Ohio reported in June.
asserted
Ohio → send → June
The messages are also said to have contained a digitally altered image of Shrek with his penis exposed.
asserted
penis → say → Shrek
An affidavit with Byrnes’ arrest report refers to the image of Shrek as “fully nude with an exposed and erect humanlike penis engaged in an act of masturbation.”
Byrnes reportedly sent the image to Cirino on May 6, and two days later the Republican emailed Kirtland Police Chief Jeremy Fisher saying Brynes has “harassed” him in the past — and that he didn’t want to see the “pornographic” image of Shrek.
uncertain
he → refer → Shrek
“I am officially filing a complaint and am asking that the Kirtland Police Department take appropriate actions since this occurred in Kirtland where I live,” Cirino wrote.
asserted
Cirino → file → Kirtland
“I would like this harassment to stop immediately and I would like charges filed against the individual.”
asserted
charges → like → individual
Cirino reportedly said of the image “I don’t know who this is but I am certain you are a moron.”
uncertain
you → say → image
Byrnes was arrested at the statehouse on June 1.
asserted
Byrnes → arrest → June
He spent 23 hours in jail before posting bail.
asserted
He → spend → bail
He was expected to appear in court on Thursday.
asserted
He → expect → Thursday
Following his stint behind bars, Byrnes put his mugshot on T-shirts with the words “never surrender” and began to sell them.
asserted
Byrnes → follow → them
If found guilty of telecommunications harassment, Byrnes could face up to six months in prison.
uncertain
Byrnes → find → prison
In a statement to the Ohio Signal, Byrnes said: “I believe that the facts presented in court will show that I’m innocent of the misdemeanor charge of telecommunications harassment.
asserted
I → say → harassment
“On the advice of my legal counsel, Bill Livingston, I will not be commenting on the specifics of the allegations.
asserted
I → comment → allegations
The work of shining light on the wretched and decaying underbelly of Ohio politics is too important to be sidetracked by this attempted interference.”
asserted
work → shin → interference
The Independent has contacted Byrnes for comment.
asserted
Independent → contact → comment
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