Ohio political blogger D.J. Byrnes, a.k.a. “The Rooster,” was arrested Monday after he allegedly sent a photo of Shrek’s penis to a state senator last month.
Byrnes, who is known for using confrontational tactics to report for his progressive newsletter, texted the snap of the ogre’s “male parts” to Ohio state Sen. Jerry Cirino (R), a source told Columbus’ NBC affiliate WCMH-TV.
Ohio State Highway Patrol arrested him at the Ohio Statehouse before he spent 23 hours in Franklin County Jail. He faces a misdemeanor charge for telecommunications harassment.
The image, per an affidavit by a detective with the Kirtland Police Department, featured a “hyper realistic” depiction of the character with “‘an erect humanlike penis engaged in the act of masturbation’ to the victim.”
While court documents identify the victim simply as “J.C.,” Byrnes’ colleague Max Littman and Byrnes’ wife, Rachel Wenning, told Signal Ohio that Cirino — who has been mocked by the blogger and referred to as “Little Mussolini” — is the recipient.
After Cirino wrote to Kirtland Police Chief Jeremy Fisher about receiving the “pornographic” Shrek snap and pushed for charges against Byrnes, the department launched a probe that found an article where Ohio Senate Majority Caucus communications director John Fortney described the blogger as a “security threat,” Signal Ohio noted.
The department later requested an arrest warrant, which was later signed by Cirino-endorsed Judge Marisa L. Cornachio.
Byrnes, in a statement shared to social media, wrote, “I believe that the facts presented in court will show that I’m innocent of the misdemeanor charge of telecommunications harassment.”
When asked separately about the misdemeanor charge, “The Rooster” crowed, “Can’t talk specifics but I promise you will laugh when you see.”
A number of Ohio politicians have since taken issue with Byrnes’ arrest, including Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin (D).
“Didn’t realize having the Rooster thrown in jail for annoying me was an option this whole time??? Seems like censorship to me – unacceptable,” Hardin wrote on social media.
And Niraj Antani, a former GOP state senator, stressed on X that “no one has been attacked” by Byrnes more than him.
“But this is wrong,” he wrote. “Freedom of speech in Ohio. Rest in peace. 1803-2026.”