Tyler Burleson, currently detained in Unicoi County Jail, claims he is being held unlawfully over a resolved bounced check case. Burleson appeared by phone from jail on Monday’s WarRoom and told host Steve Bannon that he had not been arraigned despite surpassing the 72-hour limit required by law, raising questions about the legality of his detention and its potential political motivations.
Burleson, who was introduced to the WarRoom in mid-January by Ben Bergquam, exposed faulty FEMA response to the impact of flooding in his community. He remains in jail without being formally arraigned, raising questions about the timing. Speaking from the Unicoi County Jail, Burleson shared his frustrations about his current situation, which he believes is unjust, and some revenge for having a distribution center for flooding victims.
Burleson told the WarRoom that he was arrested over an alleged bounced check. However, he claims the check was resolved and made whole even before his arrest. What’s more, the company involved is reportedly not pressing charges. Despite this, Burleson has been sitting in jail for over a week.
"I haven’t been arraigned yet,” Burleson explained. "I thought it was supposed to be within 72 hours after arrest. It’s been far longer than that.” He says his court date is now scheduled for Thursday, January 30th, but he questions why he is still being detained when the alleged victim is pressing no charges.
Burleson revealed that the situation became more suspicious after his own attorney failed to respond. With no communication from his lawyer, an attorney contacted him through outside connections. This new attorney contacted the court system, confirming the court date but raising concerns about the prolonged detention.
Burleson alleges that local authorities, including Unicoi County Detective Tony Buchanan and District Attorney Justin Iraq, have singled him out. He accuses Detective Buchanan of impersonating a code enforcement officer to sabotage his distribution center initiative, which was set up to assist the community.
Burleson also claims political bias is at play. "The county does not like what we’re doing,” he said. "The mayor, Glenn White, himself said they don’t want anything to do with us because we didn’t ask permission to open the distribution center. I didn’t know I needed permission to help the community.”
Further, Burleson pointed to comments by DA Iraq, who allegedly stated, "The county is better off with you in jail than out there.”
This case takes on a broader context as it coincides with Democrat-led sanctuary cities releasing illegal immigrants into the streets to avoid enforcement by federal authorities like Tom Homan. Meanwhile, Burleson, a U.S. citizen attempting to aid his community, sits behind bars without formal charges.
For background, see our prior coverage of this story:
Burleson’s detention comes simultaneously as President Trump’s recent visit to North Carolina, drawing national attention to the region. Burleson speculates that his detention may be an effort to silence him or prevent him from being associated with Trump’s presence.
Currently, Burleson cannot contact his team or community due to limited jail visitation options. The jail uses a screen kiosk system for visits, requiring 24-hour advance scheduling. "I’m hoping someone can pull strings to get me a bond or get the charges dropped,” he said. "The check was made whole. Nobody is pressing charges. The only reason I’m being held is because they don’t like me.”
Burleson remains committed to his community efforts despite local pushback. "I just wanted to help,” he said. "We don’t need permission to do what’s right.”
Efforts are underway to escalate Burleson’s case. Supporters, including media figures, have vowed to bring national attention to his plight. "We’re going to make some people famous down there,” Bannon said.
As Burleson’s story unfolds, questions remain about the legality of his detention and the motives behind it. For now, the man who aimed to serve his community waits behind bars, calling for justice in what he calls a politically charged ordeal.
For more information, watch the fill interview segment from Monday’s WarRoom:
