Nathan the Unprincipled Swindler and Con Artist

Dec 21, 202115 min read

Some definitions from Merriam-Webster:

Swindler: a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
Unprincipled: not guided by or showing a concern for what is right
Con Artist: a person who tricks other people in order to get their money

Exactly one week after Nathan began begging (to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner, Merriam-Webster) for money from strangers on his GoFundMe page, Nathan posted the first picture of himself at Disneyworld in Florida. Here is a screen capture of his first post at Disneyworld on December 16, 2021:

Here’s a screen capture of the last post he made on December 19, 2021 (minor child blocked):

Don’t forget at least two travel days before and after the 4 days spent at Disneyworld just one week after posting a GoFundMe page begging for money because he, “simply cannot pay all these additional expenses on my own.”

How many Shelby families can afford to go to Disneyworld...

For nearly a week the week before Christmas,
The week after begging for money because they “simply cannot pay for all (their) expenses on (their) own?”,
During a worsening world-wide pandemic,
And buy a Toy Story tee shirt for themselves,
Don’t forget transportation, food, hotel, etc.?

As an aside, on December 15, 2021, the day before he posted his first picture from Disneyworld in Florida, Nathan posted the following:

While his wife is on her way to Children’s Hospital with “baby”, all he can do is request “prayers” while he’s on his way to Florida to spend the week playing while he waits for other people to donate money to him for his “expenses.” Check out his Twitter account for yourself; he didn’t even bother to update his followers about “baby(s)” condition; he was too busy spending other people’s money on a vacation the week before Christmas. Don’t forget, Nathan calls himself “principled”.

* Now let’s look to Nathan’s GoFundMe page: Nathan’s comments are in regular type, ours are in bold type.*

Here is Nathan’s request as found on his GoFundMe page without edit:

(Retrieved December 9, 2021 from: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-nathan-with-his-expenses?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer)

Help Nathan With His Expenses

$480 raised of $15,000 goal from 9 donations

Nathan Martin is organizing this fundraiser.

As many of you know I have been targeted with a subpoena from the Select Committee Investigation the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol. As a result, I have incurred a lot of expenses and all this for not even being charged or accused of a crime. There is a possibility that someone will step forward and help take care of my legal bills. However, in the absence of that, I need your help.

I am a husband and father of 11 kids and simply cannot pay all these additional expenses on my own.

All proceeds will go to any expenses and debts I have incurred.

Here is my official statement:

“Today I participated in a voluntary interview with investigators with the Select Congressional Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol.

I submitted over 8 thousand pages of requested documents to include my personal financial records and my counsel and I have not objected to the subpoena of my complete phone records during this time as well.

This is on top of making myself available to my fellow members of Council to answer, on public record, in a committee of the whole any and all questions related to my involvement.

The bottomline is and always has been that I did nothing wrong or anything bordering illegal and I have not been accused of such.

God Bless those who have prayed alongside us during this time. Please feel free to share this with everyone you know.”

-Nathan

Now let’s break it down:

As many of you know I have been targeted with a subpoena from the Select Committee Investigation the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol. As a result, I have incurred a lot of expenses and all this for not even being charged or accused of a crime. Yet, by his own admission, he was present in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021 and is associated with the “Stop the Steal” organization as was outlined in the subpoena and in online news reports. Who paid his “expenses” for his travel to Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021? Nowhere in his social media does he complain about having to spend money to travel to Washington, D.C. to “Stop the Steal.” More on this later.

Nathan was decidedly NOT targeted with a subpoena. He chose to travel to Washington, D.C. and participate as he did. Under criminal law, he is given the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; what he is experiencing is the first step in the criminal process. There may be additional civil issues brought against him where the plaintiff has the burden of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence.

He further states, “…all this for not even being charged or accused of a crime.” Hundreds or even thousands of people are served every day with subpoena’s for many things outside of being charged or accused of a crime. Some reasons include, as a witness, contractual issues, utility records, accounting/bookkeeping records, employee records and many, many more. He is NOT a victim (“targeted”) for receiving a subpoena, the United States Government (of, for and by the People) were the victim. He is believed to have information relevant to determining responsibility and holding those responsible for the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol – in any way – accountable.

There is a possibility that someone will step forward and help take care of my legal bills. However, in the absence of that, I need your help. Yet, here he is begging for money from strangers (remember, he’s a self-described “conservative”). His social media accounts show a great deal of time devoted to posting, which doesn’t include time presumably spent reading or engaging in other ways. Has he considered getting another job? There are many people in this country (and I’m sure Shelby) who work two or even three jobs to make ends meet. If he was to total the time he spends on social media and devote that time to, say a restaurant or retail establishment (who are practically begging for workers) he would in no time have EARNED the $15,000. he is begging to receive for nothing (more on this later.) And how can he afford to purchase a second house for $100,000. just months before begs for $15,000. from strangers online?

I am a husband and father of 11 kids and simply cannot pay all these additional expenses on my own. Four of his “11 kids” are foster children. According to the Columbus Dispatch (May 15, 2021), “foster parents in Ohio receive anywhere from $300 to $6,000 a month, per child.” So in addition to his numerous jobs posted on his social media, he may receive between $1,200 and $24,000 per month or $14,400 and $288,000 per year in government money for being a foster parent.

All proceeds will go to any expenses and debts I have incurred. Which expenses and debts? Can the citizens of Shelby and Richland County count on him to audit these expenses and debts and issue a report? He describes himself as a “public servant” and receives government money in the form of income for serving on city council and for being a foster parent. Tax payers and constituents should be permitted to audit these expenses and debts; it is after all, their money he is spending. After all, he identifies as a “conservative”; isn’t that exactly what conservatives demand of others? Since it appears Nathan has aspirations to open a “Cigar Bar”, could some of his “expenses and debts” be part of that venture? Will he pay off his apparent campaign debt of $896.00 with these “proceeds”? Will he use these “proceeds” toward the second house he purchased in Shelby?

Here is my official statement: What is “official”? Why would a private citizen need an “official statement”? Is he making this request as an “official” of the City of Shelby Council? His photograph on the GoFundMe page is the same photograph used in various media outlets for city council – it’s him in a council meeting. Below he states, “This is on top of making myself available to my fellow members of Council to answer, on public record, in a committee of the whole any and all questions related to my involvement.” It seems he is conflating his personal life with public life. If we are confused, others are surely confused. This seems unprincipled, if not possibly unlawful.

“Today I participated in a voluntary interview with investigators with the Select Congressional Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol. There is nothing “voluntary” about a subpoena – that’s why it’s a subpoena. It’s an order to comply.

I was not requested to be deposed under oath, as has been reported by many who did not understand the process, and volunteered to make myself available for as many hours as the investigators found sufficient over two days. They did not require that amount of time. Nathan doesn’t seem to “understand the process”. He was subpoenaed as a witness and not charged with a crime, and therefore he was not required to be under oath. Investigators nearly always interview witnesses, potential witnesses, suspects, suspected suspects and others without being under oath to “lock down” their story. What this does is ensure truthfulness because if someone doesn’t tell the truth in the interview and investigators discover that they were untruthful, they can then put them under oath and ask the same questions. It’s law enforcement 101; lie to investigators, perjure yourself or just simply tell the truth.

There are only three choices here. No splitting hairs. No fudging. No confusion. No hedging your bets, no second chances. No games. You either lie, perjure yourself or tell the truth. Period. Why make the distinction of saying he was “not requested to be deposed under oath,” if he simply told the truth?

This is on top of making myself available to my fellow members of Council to answer, on public record, in a committee of the whole any and all questions related to my involvement. As previous outlined: What is “official”? Why would a private citizen need an “official statement”? Is he making this request as an “official” of the City of Shelby Council? Nathan’s photograph on the GoFundMe page is the same photograph used in various media outlets for city council – it’s him in a council meeting. Below he states, “This is on top of making myself available to my fellow members of Council to answer, on public record, in a committee of the whole any and all questions related to my involvement.” It seems he is conflating his personal life with public life. If we are confused, others are surely confused. This seems unprincipled, if not possibly unlawful.

The bottomline is and always has been that I did nothing wrong or anything bordering illegal and I have not been accused of such. No, that’s not the bottomline (sic). As a member of a functioning Democratic society, especially one who serves in local government, it is his duty to obey and comply with the law. Additionally, he is justifiably proud to be an armed services Veteran. Yet, despite his Enlistment Oath, he dishonors the very Constitution he swore (or affirmed) to support and defend by failing to voluntarily provide information to the Select Committee – instead, he was subpoenaed.

As previously stated, in a criminal matter he is innocent until proven guilty. No one has accused Nathan of a crime, yet his actions lead some to reasonably believe he was perhaps party to unlawful activity. That is why he was subpoenaed, to determine what, if anything he knew about the January 6, 2021 Capitol Attack. Nathan alone is responsible for his actions, he alone needs to accept that responsibility. If Nathan witnessed certain crimes being committed in Ohio, he is required under Ohio law to report that crime. If Nathan just happened to be somewhere a crime was committed and he witnessed it, he is required to report it – Why would he complain about that? I think we know the answer to that question, as does Nathan.

With regards to the January 6, 2021 Capitol Attack, Nathan himself CHOSE to be there. He didn’t just happen to be there. It was his choices, decisions and actions that put him there. He is now a potential witness to the alleged crimes which took place that day and has a duty under the laws of our country to provide law enforcement any information he has regarding those alleged crimes. Why wouldn’t Nathan want to assist in any way he could as a witness to the events of January 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C.?

But now I will speak to the process. It is a shame that I am being forced to spend 10s of thousands of dollars to defend my exercising my rights and supporting others in their fundamental right to first amendment protected activities. I fundamentally believe this committee is a waste of taxpayer dollars, a circus, and a politically motivated witch hunt. What happened on January 6th was a tragedy but the time for assessing blame to some central singular force has passed and we need to focus on the future. See above. Again, he alone is responsible for his actions. Nathan needs to accept that responsibility. Nathan isn’t being “forced” to do anything. Like all of us, our actions have consequences. His choice to go to Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021 now makes it his responsibility to accept the consequences of his actions. He wants it both ways.

By Nathan’s reasoning, he should be paid (or at least not have to pay) for exercising his Constitutional rights. This entitlement mindset he exhibits is absurd and preposterous! Just to be clear – Is Nathan saying he thinks he shouldn’t have to pay to travel somewhere as he did on January 6, 2021 to exercise his “…rights and supporting others in their fundamental right to first amendment protected activities.”? Yet he did pay to travel to Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021 to exercise those same rights he now claims, “is a shame that I am being forced to spend 10s of thousands of dollars to defend.” Nathan had no complaints until he got caught up in the “Stop the Steel” and Capitol Attack of that alarming day. No, he doesn’t get it both ways. What side does Nathan comes down on? What exactly is he saying?

Regardless of what he, “fundamentally believes”, we are a nation of laws and every one of us is required to obey them and answer for why we didn’t when confronted about our actions within the legal system. Nathan alone doesn’t get to decide what is, “a waste of taxpayer dollars, a circus, and a politically motivated witch hunt.” Especially when subpoenaed.

If he did, then we all would be able to decide his alleged actions related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol Attack were a waste of taxpayer dollars (he gets government money as a foster parent and salary as a councilmember as well as demonstrated on public property), a circus as in frenzied activity, sensationalism, theatricality, or razzle-dazzle (from Merriam-Webster) and a politically motivated witch hunt – he didn’t like the results of a free and fair Democratically held general election in which he wanted to purge what he didn’t like for something he did). But we don’t get to decide, just as he doesn’t.

Nathan states, “…assessing blame to some central singular force has passed and we need to focus on the future.” This would be laughable given his unashamed hypocrisy and where it not for the existential threat to our Democracy the January 6, 2021 Capitol Attack poises to our Country. If Nathan was assaulted on the street, would he still think, “…assessing blame to some central singular force has passed and we need to focus on the future.”? I think everyone knows that answer – including Nathan.

Nathan says so much about his beliefs, but his actions speak so much louder. His social media posts are filled with “assessing blame” to others who don’t share his extreme beliefs. He never “focus(es) on the future” when he is blaming everyone else for his and the Country’s problems. Nathan is a complainer and a fraud, not a leader and certainly not a victim as he wants us to believe. He thrives on the attention he receives blaming others and using memes, punchlines and insults as he attempts to fill a void within himself that only he can fill. Nathan is a bitter, contempt-filled, little man. One only has to read his social media posts to see that.

I have cooperated but I will never relinquish my right to organize grassroots power for change and I will fight to my last breath for the right of every American to do so without fear of retribution. I will be starting a crowdfunding campaign to cover my legal fees in next following days. Nathan appears to not understand the basic tenet of freedom of speech, etc. We all have limited freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is limited (i.e. yelling fire in a crowded theater, etc.) and only relates to government interference or regulation. Outside of that, his (and everyone else’s) absolute freedom of speech doesn’t exist. It says in his bio that he is a “scholar”, yet we’re very surprised he doesn’t know the law underpinning freedom of speech in the United States. Outside of government interference or regulation, anything he says is governed not by “cancel culture” as he and others like to complain about, it is about accountability culture as he and others try to avoid. Does Nathan think he has a “free speech right” to say negative things about his employer and still have a job?! We all know that answer and so does Nathan.

If he uses his private Twitter account to make public statements or his public Twitter account to make private statements, individuals can interpret his behavior the way their background, experience, morals, ethics, etc. permit them to interpret his behavior. They are not “government”, they are his constituents and may exercise their actual Right to vote him in or out of office based on his behavior. Again, this is accountability culture, something we all are subject to – including Nathan.

What legal fees?

Nathan says NOTHING about his attorney(s). Is he referring to his personal travel expenses to Washington D.C. to comply with the subpoena he was issued for not voluntarily assisting with the Congressional inquiry or something else?

Nathan is begging for $15,000 on his GoFundMe page for “any expenses and debts I have incurred.” He says nothing about legal fees or even consulting with an attorney. Let’s assume he does or will have $15,000 in legal fees. If an attorney charges $300 per hour, that will permit 50 hours of work at this hourly rate. He stated he made himself, “available for as many hours as the investigators found sufficient over two days. They did not require that amount of time.” 50 hours is over a week’s work, if you’re working on nothing else. Notice Nathan doesn’t say where the interview(s) took place. He doesn’t say he traveled to Washington, D.C. or a Field Office here in Ohio or even if the investigators travel to Ohio for the interview? This is an example of his paltering. Before giving him any money, we need to know exactly what, “any expenses and debts I have incurred.” actually means. This sure seems pretty vague, broad and open-ended.

What Nathan says may actually be accurate, but what he intentionally leaves out is the very foundation of the truth. Truth his constituents need to know about.

God Bless those who have prayed alongside us during this time. Please feel free to share this with everyone you know.” -Nathan So, the other group of his constituents who didn’t “pray alongside of us” doesn’t get God’s blessing? As the 4th Ward representative to City Council, is it not his duty to represent everyone, regardless of their beliefs?

Here’s an update from: December 13, 2021 by Nathan Martin, Organizer

I just wanted to thank everyone who has supported us! We have raised an additional $2100 offline so we are getting to our goal! So I have adjusted our online goal for this. I cannot express how grateful Mandi and I are for each and everyone (sic) who has reached out, donated, and offered prayer. IF you have not already done so, if you can please share this with your networks, that will help us tremendously. Thank you again! Nathan

Nathan regularly deceives his constituents and others by actively and consciously using truthful statements to mislead. It’s the same as outright lying, if not worse. Nathan leads us to believe he can’t afford his legal bills when in fact there is so much more to his statement that he leaves out. Sadly, there are many examples of his dishonesty.

While Shelby residents keep their heads down, work hard – sometimes on multiple jobs – worry about their and their children’s future, wonder how they can afford food, medicine, clothing and more for their children and themselves, volunteer to help their neighbors and others in need, and much more including navigating a world-wide pandemic, politicians like Nathan vote themselves multiple raises, blur the line between their public and private lives, seemingly hide income sources while begging for money online they didn’t earn and for actions they alone are responsible for and offers no leadership or comfort to his constituents in these trying times.

More details about Mr. Martin will be posted soon. In the meantime let us know if there are any inaccuracies in our reporting and we’ll correct them right away.

Nathan the Unprincipled Swindler and Con Artist

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