An Ohio journalist and blogger known as The Rooster (real name D.J. Byrnes) was arrested at the Ohio statehouse on Monday by the State Highway Patrol and booked into the Franklin County Jail.
His crime? Well, this was an arrest for “telecommunications harassment”, with the warrant alleging Byrnes sent two images to an individual identified only as “J.C.” with the intent to harass. So, what were these offending messages?
Ohio political blogger D.J. Byrnes was taken into custody at the Ohio Statehouse on a telecom‑harassment warrant. https://t.co/Mla2Ow5blv
— Columbus Dispatch (@DispatchAlerts) June 1, 2026
Byrne’s colleague, Max Littman, told The Columbus Dispatch he believes the arrest was a consequence of Byrnes texting “photos of cartoon character Shrek’s penis” to a state senator, namely State Sen. Jerry Cirino, who Byrne regularly refers to as “Little Mussolini”. Littman said, “If that is in fact true, that he was arrested over that, then it’s blatant targeting a political opponent and journalist.”
Littman’s version of events was backed up by Ohio attorney Scott Pullins, who took to X to emphasize that while he doesn’t agree with “90% of his politics”, if Byrnes was arrested on these alleged grounds, then it is “reprehensible”:
a cartoon of Shrek's penis which is readily found on the internet. He was charged with a first degree misdemeanor telecommunications harassment and a warrant was put out for his arrest. That warrant does not appear on the Court's website but was leaked to Jack Windsor.
— Scott Pullins (@scottpullins) June 2, 2026
“I want to say a few things about D.J. Byrnes, The Rooster. I do not agree with 90% of his politics. I do not like how he treated his ex who is a valued colleague and a dear friend. But what happened to him yesterday is reprehensible.
He allegedly sent two texts and a cartoon of Shrek’s penis which is readily found on the internet. He was charged with a first degree misdemeanor telecommunications harassment and a warrant was put out for his arrest.”
Should he just get ogre it?
Sen Cirino has largely declined to comment, though Signal Ohio reports that he was asked about Byrne’s arrest and said he “did not request any such thing”.
Byrnes was released on bond after an overnight stay in the county jail and is due in a Lake County Court later this week. In a statement to press, he said the facts will prove his innocence:
“I believe the facts presented in court will show that I’m innocent of the misdemeanor charge of telecommunications harassment. On the advice of my legal counsel, Bill Livingston, I will not be commenting on the specifics of the allegations.”
He also underlined that he will not be deterred from his reporting by this incident, saying:
“The work of shining a light on the wretched and decaying underbelly of Ohio politics is too important to be sidetracked by this attempted interference.”
If convicted, Byrnes faces a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1000.
Published: Jun 4, 2026 07:08 am