Ohio Blogger Found Guilty of Telecommunications Harassment

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<img alt="A photo of a gavel" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/gettyimages-2261816039.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">A jury found an Ohio political blogger guilty of telecommunications harassment after he sent an explicit image of Shrek to a Republican state senator. On Friday, a judge ordered DJ Byrnes, owner of political commentary blog <em>The Rooster</em>, to pay a $200 fine, according to a report from the <em>Columbus Dispatch</em>.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Byrnes texted Ohio Senator Jerry Cirino in May after Cirino dropped out of the state's Senate presidential race. As reported by the <em>Columbus Dispatch</em>, Byrnes sent a nude image of Shrek alongside the message: "Good to see you finally made your humiliation public, Young Mussolini! THE PATRIOTS CAUCUS sends its regards!!!!!!!!!!"</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cirino filed a police report following the incident.</p>