Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Ohio Blogger Convicted Over Obscene Shrek Image Sent to Senator
DJ Byrnes writes a political newsletter in Ohio.
He sent state Senator Jerry Cirino an obscene picture of the cartoon character Shrek.
Byrnes also used the nickname “young Mussolini” for Cirino.
Cirino said the picture was harassment, not just political disagreement, and asked police to act.
A jury found Byrnes guilty of telecommunications harassment.
A judge fined him $200 and warned him not to harass Cirino again.
The article does not report Byrnes’s response to the conviction.
Political blogger DJ Byrnes was convicted of one count of telecommunications harassment.
The case followed Byrnes sending Ohio state Senator Jerry Cirino an obscene image of Shrek on May 6.
Cirino said the image crossed the line between political speech and harassment and asked police to take action.
Byrnes had also called Cirino “young Mussolini,” a nickname he often used to target the senator.
A judge fined Byrnes $200 and warned him against further harassment of Cirino.
- Who
- Political blogger DJ Byrnes and Ohio state Senator Jerry Cirino.
- What
- Byrnes was convicted of telecommunications harassment after sending Cirino an obscene image of Shrek.
- When
- The image was sent on May 6; the article does not give the date of the conviction.
- Where
- Kirtland, Ohio.
- Why
- Cirino said the image crossed the line between political speech and harassment and asked police to take action.
- Defendant
- DJ Byrnes, publisher of The Rooster on Substack
- Recipient
- Ohio state Senator Jerry Cirino, who represents the state's 18th district
- Image sent
- An obscene image depicting the cartoon character Shrek
- Date sent
- May 6
- Verdict
- Guilty of one count of telecommunications harassment
- Fine
- $200
- Further action
- The judge warned Byrnes against further harassment of Cirino