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Nathan Damigo, founder of white nationalist group Identity Evropa, files for bankruptcy protection

The founder of the white nationalist group Identity Evropa is seeking federal bankruptcy protection in what appears to be a pre-emptive move stemming from a lawsuit over “Unite the Right.”

Nathan Benjamin Damigo, an Oakdale, California, resident who received an Other Than Honorable discharge from the Marines, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Jan. 2 to liquidate any assets to pay creditors.

Damigo and two dozen other figures associated with the racist “alt-right” are defendants in a federal civil suit stemming from the violence on Aug. 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The lawsuit is scheduled for trial from July 8 through Aug. 2 in Charlottesville.

The creditors Damigo lists in the 60-plus-page bankruptcy petition are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, including the estate of Heather Heyer, who died after being run down by neo-Nazi sympathizer James Alex Fields after the “Unite the Right” rally, Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, and Mark and Nickolas Heyer, her father and brother, respectively.

The creditors are listed as having an “unknown” claim against Damigo from a “potential lawsuit.”

Other alt-right figures including Fields, former Traditionalist Worker Party chief Matthew Heimbach and white nationalist blogger Bradley Dean Griffin are listed as potential co-debtors should a judgment come down from the lawsuit.

Damigo also lists $1,273.17 in credit card debt owed to Chase Southwest Credit Card.

Damigo lists $1,783.68 in monthly income and $1,140 in monthly expenses. He also claimed $29,077 in Veteran’s Administration benefits, $1,266 in salary and $2,268 in unspecified currency trading in 2017.

Among Damigo’s assets are a 2006 BMW 325i valued at $2,532, a variety of woodworking and construction equipment valued at $1,764.18 and a golden retriever dog, which he valued at $500. (In a separate part of the bankruptcy documents, he values that same golden retriever at $250.)

Damigo has been involved in alt-right events and violence for several years.

At an event dubbed “The Battle of Berkeley,” on April 15, 2017, Damigo slugged a 95-pound antifa protester in the face amid chaos and violence that spurred police to fire tear gas into the crowd.

The alt-right created a meme based on that punch that portrayed Damigo as a hero and latter-day warrior.

Damigo, who has a conviction for robbery, stepped down as head of Identity Evropa in August 2017, although he did not file paperwork to formally dissolve the corporation until August 2018.

Damigo and Identity Evropa were involved in the planning for “Unite the Right,” but later tried to publicly distance themselves from the rally and its organizer, Jason Kessler.

Since Damigo left Identity Evropa, it has had two leaders: Eli Mosley, also known as Elliott Kline, and its current top dog, Patrick Casey.

Damigo is a felon, having been convicted of robbery for pointing a loaded gun at a man for “looking Iraqi” and stealing $43 from him.

The alt-right and white nationalist movements have largely been quiet about Damigo’s bankruptcy.

Photo illustration by SPLC

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated for clarity.

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