Ammon Bundy Is Crowdsourcing Bail Money

Ammon Bundy's attorneys have set up a crowdfunding site to pay his legal bills.

Speaking Tuesday after his arraignment, Bundy attorney Michael Arnold told reporters that he had been authorized by his client to set up the web page.

"This crowdfunding site is just to give him access to funds for initial attorney fees," Arnold said, "and hopefully for help with bail."

Arnold will make the case for Bundy's pretrial release today at 1:30 pm.

The argument for bail will prove difficult if four militants are still occupying Malheur National Wildlife Refuge: A federal judge has said she won't consider release of any of the 10 defendants in Multnomah County Jail until the refuge is cleared.

FBI agents and Oregon State Police arrested Bundy and four followers Tuesday night on U.S. Highway 395. The FBI took the remarkable step Thursday of releasing video of the arrests—including the killing of militant LaVoy Finicum.

Bundy's crowdfunding site was set up Jan. 27 on fundedjustice.com, a crowdfunding platform specifically designed to help pay legal fees.

Bundy's attorneys hope to raise $100,000 by Feb. 27. The site has so far raised $1,979 from 21 supporters.

"Money donated will be placed into an attorney trust account for Ammon Bundy's representation," says the funding page's description, which notes that people should "feel free not to contribute to Ammon and instead contribute to another defendant."

Ammon Bundy and seven others face federal felony charges of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation or threats. The maximum penalty is six years in prison.

Attorneys at Arnold Law, which has offices in Portland and Eugene, could not be reached for comment.

A statement attributed to Ammon Bundy posted to the crowdfunding page says:

"The world is listening. We will use the criminal discovery process to obtain information and government records. We will continue to educate the American people of the injustices that are taking place. We can do this through an Article 3 Court in front of an Article 3 judge. This is the Constitution."

Willamette Week