California radio talk show host Mike Golden works the phones at Freedom Books on East Sahara Avenue to drum up support for income tax opponent Irwin Schiff, who was convicted of tax evasion on Monday.
Wind recently blew a cover off a prohibited anti-tax message on the sign outside Irwin Schiff's Freedom Books at 444 E. Sahara Ave. Photo by Craig L. Moran.
The leader of the so-called "tax honesty movement" is sitting in a Las Vegas jail cell, but that hasn't stopped loyal supporters from rallying around him.
"I feel I owe the man. I owe him because he's such an icon," said Mike Golden, a radio talk show host from Fresno, Calif.
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The "man" is Irwin Schiff, the nationally known income tax opponent who was convicted Monday of charges that include tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the federal government. Despite numerous run-ins with the law, Schiff for years has advocated the position that Americans have no legal obligation to pay income tax.
Golden met Schiff two years ago but said he has followed his work for two decades. Golden has taken time off from college to help Schiff and attend his federal trial, which lasted six weeks.
While in Las Vegas, Golden uses a desk at Schiff's business, Freedom Books, where he contributes to Internet blogs and fields calls "to help get the word out."
On Wednesday, Golden talked to a Chicago attorney who has expressed an interest in handling Schiff's appeal. Golden said "contributors" will pay the attorney's fees, because Schiff is "penniless."
Federal prosecutors dispute that assertion, however. They believe Schiff, who represented himself during his trial, has financial reserves in overseas bank accounts.
On Wednesday, Golden, who admits to being "mouthy," openly criticized the prosecutors and judge involved in Schiff's trial, while referring to Schiff as a "national hero" and a "genius."
Meanwhile, a volunteer who is helping run Freedom Books in Schiff's absence asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal from the government.
"Until further notice, we'll keep the business running," he said.
The volunteer said business has been slow for the past year because of a court order that bans Schiff from selling many of his products.
"Since the conviction, it's almost stopped," the man said.
He said the business received its most recent Internet order on Monday. "We used to be flooded with orders," he said.
During the trial, prosecutors said Schiff has sold millions of dollars' worth of products.
The volunteer said the court order also required Schiff to cover a sign outside his East Sahara Avenue business that reads, "Why pay income taxes when no law says you have to?" Wind recently blew the cover off.
"We refer to the wind blowing the cover off as an act of God," the volunteer said. "Jokingly, of course."
He said the business has been receiving calls from Schiff supporters all over the country since Monday's verdicts. They call to express their sympathy, he said. "One guy even started crying."
"It's a crushing blow, his conviction, but it's only the first round," he said.
