How does posting a quote from the aftermath of a school shooting constitute a real threat of a new shooting? It's relevant because it was in the aftermath of Kirk's shooting, it wouldn't be relevant to post a quote of "we have to get over it" if you were trying to make a threat about a future shooting.

Sure they might have taken him in on the bogus, unfounded claim that he was somehow making a threat, but the real message they're trying to send is that being outspoken against the rise of fascism will get you thrown in jail.

There's no point in trying to explain the bullshit excuse, because it never mattered in the first place. The judge "thought" it was a legit threat because they're just another part of the corrupt system trying to quash this kind of discourse. If anything they went after the former cop because they want to keep any others from switching sides.