Matthew Warren Heimbach is an American neo-Nazi, white supremacist and anti-semitic conspiracy theorist. In September 2018, Heimbach took the position of community outreach director for the National Socialist Movement. He founded the Traditionalist Workers Party, which ceased operation in March 2018 when he was arrested for assaulting Matt Parrott, a co-founder and his father-in-law, in the course of Heimbach's pursuit of a sexual affair with his mother-in-law. Prior to his affair with his mother-in-law, Heimbach had assembled a community of neo-Nazis and anti-Jewish conspiracy theorists in a Paoli, Indiana trailer park. Heimbach was considered the leader of this community, and had received media attention for his role in this regard, but lost credibility following the incident with his parents-in-law. Heimbach is a defendant in the Sines v. Kessler lawsuit filed by Integrity First for America that claims that he and other organizers in the 2017 Unite the Right white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia "planned and promoted violence against protected group." In April 2020, Heimbach attempted to frame himself as a reformed white nationalist. However, he continues to espouse his white nationalist ideology claiming his racist worldview is “natural law”.
Early life, education, and family
Heimbach, who is of German descent, was born in Poolesville, Maryland. Heimbach's parents, Karl and Margaret Heimbach, are public school teachers whose political affiliation he describes as Mitt Romney-style Republicans. Heimbach met his former wife Brooke at an American Renaissance conference.
Ideology
The Southern Poverty Law Center has commented that Heimbach is "considered by many to be the face of a new generation of white nationalists." According to the Counter Extremism Project, "Heimbach’s platform is based around the idea that the white race has been disadvantaged because of globalism and multiculturalism, which he has largely blamed on a global Jewish conspiracy. Heimbach claims white unity is necessary because the Jews hate all white people equally." Heimbach has forged ties with nationalist groups from other countries, like Greece’s far-right nationalist party Golden Dawn. The United Kingdom government banned Heimbach from entering the country in October 2015 because his extremist rhetoric could incite violence. Heimbach identifies himself as a Strasserist.
The Traditionalist Youth Network was established in May 2013 by Matthew Heimbach with Matt Parrott as an off shoot of a "White Student Union" on Towson University campus.
In January 2015 the TYN established the Traditionalist Worker Party as its political party prior to the 2016 elections, and a small group of candidates from the far-right ran under its banner. The party states that it stands against "economic exploitation, federal tyranny, and anti-Christian degeneracy". The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremist groups, designated the Traditionalist Worker Party as a hate group. The group ceased operation in March 2018 when Heimbach was arrested for assaulting his then father-in-law, Matt Parrott, in a domestic violence altercation.
Lawsuits and criminal convictions
In July 2017, Heimbach pled guilty to second-degree disorderly conduct for an incident when he repeatedly pushed an anti-Trump protester at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Louisville, Kentucky. He received a suspended prison sentence, a fine, and an order to attend anger management classes. In 2018, Heimbach was sentenced to 38 days in the Louisville jail for violating the terms of his probation.
Sines v. Kessler lawsuit
A federal lawsuit was filed in October 2017 by a group of Charlottesville residents against organizers and key participants in the August 12, 2017 Unite the Right rally. Plaintiffs Elizabeth Sines, Seth Wispelwey, Marissa Blair, Tyler Magill, April Muniz, Hannah Pearce, Marcus Martin, Natalie Romero, Chelsea Alvarado, and John Doe claim that Heimbach and the other defendants conspired to commit acts of violence. The trial is scheduled for October of 2020.
