In this Sept. 8, 2015, file photo, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, with Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee at her side, greets the crowd after being released from the Carter County Detention Center, in Grayson, Ky. Davis, hauled to jail for defying a series of federal court orders and refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, filed a 40-page court document Thursday, Sept. 24, blaming Kentucky governor Steve Beshear for all her legal woes. Photo: AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File

In this Sept. 8, 2015, file photo, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, with Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee at her side, greets the crowd after being released from the Carter County Detention Center, in Grayson, Ky. Davis, hauled to jail for defying a series of federal court orders and refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, filed a 40-page court document Thursday, Sept. 24, blaming Kentucky governor Steve Beshear for all her legal woes. Photo: AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File

When then-presidential candidate Mike Huckabee staged a triumphant release for, Kim Davis, the lawbreaking anti-LGBT county clerk jailed for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses, he probably didn’t expect to pay out the nose for the privilege.

Huckabee escorted Davis out of lockup and straight into a press conference complete with Survivor’s anthem “Eye Of The Tiger” blasting over loudspeakers – without permission from the band to use the song. The group sued the far right evangelical’s campaign for copyright infringement

Huckabee’s lawyers tried to argue that he didn’t use the song at a political rally, he used it during a religious rally “signifying joy and praise at the release of Mrs. Davis.” This would allow the politician to claim he used it for a “noncommercial” purpose which would allow him to use the song royalty-free under the “fair use” clause in the copyright law.

When his lawyer’s excuses didn’t work, Huckabee settled out of court for $25,000 – apparently giving up the thrill of the fight, unable to rise up to the challenge of his rival.

According to campaign report filings, he paid the band in May.