Ohio blogger found guilty of harassment for sending Shrek nude to senator

<figure> <img alt="A photo of a gavel" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/gettyimages-2261816039.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;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 href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/courts/2026/10/09/jurors-find-the-rooster-is-guilty-of-harassment-in-shrek-text-trial/92168333007/?gnt-cfr=1&amp;gca-cat=p&amp;gca-uir=true&amp;gca-epti=z115524e1116xxv115524d--61--b--61--&amp;gca-ft=180&amp;gca-ds=sophi">a report from the <em>Columbus Dispatch</em></a>.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Byrnes texted Ohio Sen. Jerry Cirino in May after he 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 pol …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/1008991/ohio-blogger-harassment-shrek-nude">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>