Labor activist and Free Beacon Man of the Year Mike Elk is making a last minute push to crowd-fund his legal defense and bail money after being charged with public drunkenness and felony bribery.
Elk has been campaigning to raise $10,000 to pay for his legal representation and finance his $8,000 bail using the crowdsourcing website GoFundMe. He has raised about $4,200 from crowd funding. He has also received $2,000 in support from his father, United Electrical Workers official Gene Elk.
However, that money has not been enough. Elk now fears he could end up back in jail by week’s end.
"Ugh—just got a call from my bails bondsman. If I don't come up with another $900 for a bail reduction hearing, I could be back in jail by as early Friday," Elk said in an email to supporters and colleagues on Tuesday.
Elk was arrested outside of a Tennessee bar after disputing a bill. Bouncers summoned police after Elk declined to pay his tab in full—he tells the Washington Free Beacon that the bartenders charged him for several drinks he did not order. After speaking with police he was booked on charges of bribery of a public servant, resisting arrest, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and theft of services (under $500).
Elk denied the charges, linking the arrest to his recent union advocacy in Tennessee and his public campaign against Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.).
He told the Free Beacon that the bribery charge stemmed from a misunderstanding. He said that his request in the police car to "write a check" was in reference to settling the bar tab, rather than paying any police officer, adding that he has audio recordings of the arrest to vindicate him.
Elk was freed from jail after hiring a bail bondsman to post ten percent of his $81,000 bail. Elk says he is tight on money despite recently reaching an undisclosed financial settlement with his former employer, Politico. He convinced his bail bondsman to accept a $2,000 down payment on the hefty bail with a pledge to raise the remaining money through crowdfunding.
"If charges are dropped on first court date bond cost will be reduced to 5% total. [Redacted] is only responsible for 4000 if GoFundMe brings additnal (sic) funds," a handwritten clause on Elk’s contract with the bail bondsman says.
Elk is an experienced fundraiser on GoFundMe. He has launched successful campaigns to pay for a beach vacation, as well as finance his reporting during the UAW’s unionization drive at a Chattanooga Volkswagen facility.
Elk vowed to fight the charges and sue the department to recoup legal costs. He pledges to then disburse that money to his supporters.
"I am asking you not to give me donations as much as a loan. Think of it an investment because I tend to sue the fuck out of these cops and give all the money given now back to those who donate now or free books," he says in the fundraising appeal.
Elk is a 2015 Free Beacon Man of the Year.
Full Disclosure: Elk once approached this reporter to unionize the Washington Free Beacon. The idea has yet to catch on.