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House Republicans channel their inner JACK SPARROW to 'celebrate' Johnny Depp victory

The House Republicans tweeted a gif that shows Depp, as Captain Jack Sparrow from 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' with a triumphant expression on a SINKING ship...so there's that

House Republicans decided to share a GIF depicting Johnny Depp in one of his most successful roles, as Captain Jack Sparrow, after a jury ruled in his favour in his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard on Wednesday, 1 June. The tweet didn't have a caption. The reason why House Judiciary Republicans' shared the gif was not immediately clear, but the high-profile and contentious trial has gained national attention in recent weeks.

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee tweeted the short clip of Depp in the first 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film. The uncut movie scene, from which the gif is taken, shows him atop a sinking ship that he steps off from and onto a dock just before it sinks completely. But this 'sinking ship' context is not visible in the gif and it looks instead like Captain Sparrow is sailing into the sunset triumphantly.

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The jury awarded Depp $15 million in damages on Wednesday, June 1, though the judge reduced the $5 million in punitive damages he was specifically awarded to only $350,000 because of state laws capping the limit at this amount. Heard was also awarded $2 million in compensatory damages in her countersuit against Depp. Amber Heard had claimed that Depp's lawyer, Adam Waldman, had acted as "Depp's agent" when he defamed her in his statements made to the Daily Mail newspaper about deploying an abuse "hoax" against her former husband.

The gif tweeted from the @JudiciaryGOP Twitter handle has gained more than 9K likes and 7k retweets. Users have commented on the gif, congratulating the actor on his massive victory.

A user commented by quoting the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor after the verdict, tweeting, "“The jury gave me my life back.” “Truth never perishes.” - Johnny Depp I felt that! Congratulations to Johnny and his team on his defamation suit." Another tweet said, "Johnny Depp's win is a huge blow to "believe all women" and corporate press credibility." Journalist Megyn Kelly also responded to tweet, saying, "Huge damages - $10m compensatory; $5m punitive - Heard must pay Depp"

Heard was found guilty of defaming Depp in a Washington Post op-ed in which she defined herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse," despite the fact that the op-ed never mentioned Depp by name. Depp also accused Heard of domestic violence, which was investigated during the lengthy trial. Heard said she was "heartbroken" by the judgement and "disappointed" by what it meant for other women in a statement. "It is a setback," the statement read. "It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously."

Depp also released a statement after the trial result was read, though he was not present in court on Wednesday, June 1. "The jury gave me my life back," Depp said in a statement, and signed off with the words, "a new chapter has finally begun. Veritas numquam perit. Truth never perishes."

The actor also emphasized his pursuit of truth in the main text of the statement, saying, "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that."